What are TKR implants made of?
Knee Replacement implants have been well-studied for many years and there is universal agreement on the best materials for this implant.
Therefore, major manufacturers utilise the standard accepted implant materials.
Knee Replacement Implants
The femoral (upper) component is Cobalt-Chrome, whereas the tibial (lower) component can be a titanium or cobalt-chrome component. The in-between plastic component and the patella (kneecap) component is polyethylene. This is a plastic material which serves as the articulating surface for the knee to move.
Newer advances include the Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene for the in-between component. This is a material where the plastic molecules are extensively linked together, making it more resistant to wear and tear. Some manufacturers also infuse Vitamin E into the plastic, with benefits of reducing molecular wear-and-tear as Vitamin E further stabilises the plastic molecules.
