How do I know if I am a candidate for Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement surgery with OXINIUM* hip implants?
Your doctor can evaluate your current condition and health to determine if you are a candidate for minimally-invasive surgery. Of patients requiring hip replacement, most are candidates for this procedure.

Is the Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement surgery with OXINIUM* hip implants clinically proven?
Yes, the procedure has been performed on 3,000 patients worldwide.

The OXINIUM* material has undergone over 14 years of research, development and testing, and has been successfully used in more than 20,000 patients over the past several years.

Am I too young for hip replacement?
In the past, orthopaedic surgeons have advised patients under 65 years of age to wait to have joint replacement surgery because the life span of traditional cobalt chrome implants is limited. You may be concerned about undergoing hip replacement surgery "too early," and then facing the possibility of revision surgery down the road.

With OXINIUM* products’ anticipated longevity, patients well before the age of 65 can once again enjoy an active lifestyle. A younger patient who has advanced arthritis no longer has to suffer for years until he or she reaches an appropriate age for joint replacement surgery.

Can I really enjoy being active without fear of wear and tear on the OXINIUM* hip implant?
Even physically active patients can have the utmost confidence in OXINIUM* implants since the OXINIUM* material demonstrates such low wear rates through laboratory testing. Patients who desire to return to an active lifestyle, which can include low demand sports (swimming, biking, etc.), dancing, gardening, or other activities, may also benefit from OXINIUM* replacements. The OXINIUM* implants are better able to tolerate activity and may last longer than the traditional joint replacements.

How are OXINIUM* hip implants made?
Zirconium alloy metal is shaped into an implant component. The implant is put through a patented process that allows oxygen to absorb into the zirconium metal. When the surface of the metal is saturated with oxygen, it changes from a metal to a smooth ceramic. It is this ceramic surface that gives the OXINIUM* material significant advantages over cobalt chrome. Because only the surface is changed, the rest of the component is still metal, and therefore the implant retains its overall strength.

Can nickel-sensitive patients receive OXINIUM* hip implants ?
The OXINIUM* material contains no detectable nickel, the leading cause of negative reactions in patients with metal allergies.

Between 3 percent and 8 percent of the population has been estimated to have metal allergies. Because the OXINIUM* material is one of the most biocompatible metals known to man, immune systems are easily able to tolerate a new implant.

The maximum nickel content for cobalt chrome can be as high as 1 percent compared to 0.1 percent for titanium alloy. The nickel content of OXINIUM* components cannot be detected.