DJO’s “Dual-Pivot” Knee: Positive Clinical Data

DJO Global, Inc. has new clinical evidence showing that its “EMPOWR 3D Knee technology reduces patient dissatisfaction and improves function and activity levels. Based on a multitude of studies on the biomechanics and kinematics of the knee joint, and more than 10 years of clinical heritage with DJO’s 3D Knee, the EMPOWR 3D Kneeis the industry’s first ‘dual-pivot’ technology, a breakthrough concept that is designed to better replicate the natural motion and feeling of the healthy knee.”

According to the company, “EMPOWR 3D Kneeis one of the most functionally accurate prostheses ever created and more closely recreates the natural dual-pivot motion pattern of the healthy knee throughout the entire range of motion, from early to deep flexion, creating a more natural feeling knee for the patient.”

“The most significant clinical benefits of the EMPOWR 3D Kneeidentified in the study include:

• Patient dissatisfaction is reduced by 50% compared to a competitive implant
• Patient’s “knee feels normal” ~25% more often than with a competitive implant
• Patients are over ~2X more active following surgery with the EMPOWR 3D Kneeversus a competitive knee implant”

“Initial clinical results have been very encouraging for the EMPOWR 3D Knee,” said Michael Meneghini, M.D., associate professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Indiana University School of Medicine.

When OTWasked, ‘When using the EMPOWR 3D Knee, what lets you know that it is an improvement?’ Dr. Meneghini replied, “It is all about patient satisfaction and the knee feeling more normal. We have anecdotally observed that patients describe their knees feeling more normal and with less pain.”

“We have now corroborated those anecdotal patient experiences with data, in a well-matched retrospective cohort clinical study with very robust patient outcome measures to really describe the nuanced improvements in how patients feel after total knee replacement.”

“The market is trending away from a traditional cam and post articulation in total knee arthroplasty, in favor of more conforming polyethylene bearings that are designed to substitute for the posterior-cruciate ligament. The Empower 3D knee is a more refined conforming articulation that was designed to replicate normal knee kinematics and has achieved success based on more recent science describing normal knee motion with an intact anterior-cruciate ligament.”