Collin SENIOR Magazine

The “Bee’s Knees” for Women! – Gender-Specific Knee Replacement Implants

by: Charles Toulson, MD

Medical Director of Orthopedics, Medical Center of McKinney

The lengthy list of differences between the sexes just had a new page added—gender-specific knee replacement implants. And for women anticipating knee replacement surgery, this is big news!

Sure, everyone knows men and women are put together differently, yet few know women have slight differences in the shape of their knees. That’s why gender-specific implants were exclusively designed for women in order to provide comfort and flexibility that may not be possible with a traditional joint implant.

Traditional knee implants for women are smaller than those for men, but don’t account for differences in the shape of the knee. “We’ve known that men and women’s femur and knee are different for many years, but it’s only been in the last three years that we have been utilizing different implants,” says Charles Toulson, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Medical Center of McKinney. “Now, we are able to customize knee replacements that feel better and accommodate the shape of women’s femur and knee.”

Exactly how do men and women’s knees differ? For starters, there are three key anatomical differences that make a woman’s knee joint unique: The end of a woman’s thighbone (femur) is smaller than a man’s. The shape of a woman’s knee is narrower. And the angle at which the knee joint comes together is different for men and women.

Custom-Made Comfort

The angle at which the knee joint comes together is impacted by the natural difference in the shape and size of male and female hips. So, it stands to reason that the best knee replacement implant is the one that is best fitted to suit each individual.

“The implant should allow flexibility, free range-of motion, be comfortable and allow the patient to go about daily activities without pain or inconvenience,” Dr. Toulson says.  “Since a gender-specific knee implant accounts for inherent differences in the joint anatomy of men and women, it is often the most appropriate option.”

Knee implants designed for women usually have thinner profiles than those for men. That is because the bone in front of a woman’s knee is less prominent than a man’s. A traditional implant may end up feeling “bulky” and cause pain, discomfort and limited range of motion.

“Regardless of height, the shape of a woman’s knee is narrower than that of a man’s,” Dr Toulson says. “A joint implant designed specifically for women has a contoured shape to allow for a more comfortable and snug fit. This unique design also prevents the implant from overhanging the bone and potentially damaging surrounding ligaments and tendons. In addition, this custom-made implant designed specifically for the female knee allows the leg to extend and flex in a natural, painless motion by accommodating this unique angle.”

A Distinct Difference

And here’s more good news: Medical Center of McKinney is the only hospital in Dallas and Collin counties certified for hip and knee replacement. Medical Center of McKinney’s total hip replacement and total knee replacement programs have earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval. This distinction means our hospital has been independently reviewed and certified for excellent care, excellent outcomes, and excellent patient satisfaction.

Get Educated!

Medical Center of McKinney is pleased to offer a new Joint Replacement Education Class focusing on joint replacement surgery. Our goal is to provide valuable information about what to expect before, during and after your surgery, as well as offer tips and advice on how to maintain a healthy, active and productive lifestyle after surgery.

Our nationally accredited Orthopedic Unit will work with you to make sure you are well informed about what joint replacement surgery entails. They will answer questions, offer helpful tips and advice, and calm any anxiety you may have about the surgery.

We believe that an important key to patient wellness is easily accessible information. By offering this class, we hope to equip you with the knowledge to understand your joint replacement procedure and what you can do to make sure your surgery is as successful as possible.

For more information on treatment options and knee implant types, talk to your doctor or call 972-540-4941.