Al Zahra Hospital, Sharjah, has performed a first-of-its-kind knee implant surgery in the UAE, it said.

The Freedom Knee, the world’s first total knee system was implanted in a 48-year-old female patient yesterday.

This implant has been tested and approved by the US FDA for high flexion activities (e.g. praying, kneeling and sitting on the floor). The latest development complements Al Zahra Hospital’s continuous pursuit of new innovations in the medical field to ensure that UAE residents can be provided with the best possible treatments available across the globe.

Dr Deepak Bhatia, senior orthopedic consultant, Al Zahra Hospital, said: “This has been a breakthrough surgery for us, and we take pride in becoming the first hospital in the region to use a knee implant of this kind. This advanced knee replacement system requires minimum bone cutting, which is a major benefit for the patients, as our population is known to have a high incidence of osteoporosis and less bone stock.

“Moreover, this knee provides the required high-flexion to allow our patients to perform their daily activities with complete freedom. Patients have also been able to carry out sporting activities such as swimming, golfing, tennis, and hill walking after undergoing this surgery. The availability and multiple choices in size enable this operation to be carried out both in large male and small female patients without any compromise. This is extremely important, as women in our region tend to have smaller bones compared to their Western counterparts”.

Dr Bhatia added that the new implant shortens the hospitalisation to around three days and is also suited for younger patients requiring a knee replacement surgery. The availability of a skilled medical team, state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and advanced surgical techniques also plays a vital role in such surgeries.

Dr Asit Shah, the lead designer behind the Freedom Knee, pointed out: “Long survival of any joint implant needs good anthropometric analysis based on the target population, and the implant design should take these specific anatomical differences into consideration. The Middle Eastern knee is different as there is a difference in the shape and angle of the tibia and femur. With the high prevalence of obesity and osteoporosis amongst patients in the region, by the time the patient has come for surgery the knee problems are very advanced. With the new system available, patients can be assured of a high-flexion knee replacement that requires minimum bone resection.”

The Freedom Knee has been launched by Mosaic International, one of the leading healthcare solutions providers in the GCC, in association with Maxx Medical, a global medical device company with USA-based research and manufacturing facilities.  – TradeArabia News Service