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Researchers
at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have published an early study on the
use of nanodiamonds in joint implants.
The investigators seek to find if the nanodiamonds can improve the
metallic interface of the joints, which can often shed debris and cause
problems within the body.
When
metallic debris is created within a joint that has had an implant placed in it,
it triggers the body’s immune system.
This can cause a cascade of events, which includes increasing the
activity of bone-eating cells near the implant.
When these cells have increased activity, it can cause the implant to
loosed, which is a major cause of implant failure.
Using a
nanodiamond coating, the reaserchers have found, causes less debris to form,
which in theory could improve implant success rates. This is important, because the amount of
implants used in America alone is tremendous.
Over 400,000 knee implants and over 325,000 hip implants are placed in
Americans every year, not to mention the number of implants used in other parts
of the body.
Joint
implants of the foot and ankle are often used in the first metatarsophalangeal
joint, lesser metatarsophalangeal joints, and in the ankle. Should the nanodiamond technology catch on in
the hip and knee implants, it will almost certainly be applied to foot and
ankle implants.
Much more
knowledge of the effect of nanodiamond particles on the body is needed before
this technology can be used in humans. While the nanodiamond coating may
eliminate the metallic debris that is formed, the constant pressure and
grinding forces placed through joint implants can still cause a small amount of
the diamond nanoparticle coating to become loose. The effect of this debris in the body must be
known before it can be applied.
Currently, animal models are being used to investigate this.
Of course,
what is not discussed alongside the research is the cost of such technology. The cost of using a diamond nanoparticle will
almost certainly increase the cost of the implant. This should be balanced with the increase in
success rates seen. There would need to
be a significant increase in implant success rates to begin implementing this
technology. But even if the cost of the
implant is increased, if the success rates are in fact much higher, it will
most likely decrease the cost of care, lessening the need for secondary and
revisionary surgery, and increase the patient satisfaction following surgery.
Central Florida Foot & Ankle Center, LLC
101 6th Street N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
www.FLFootandAnkle.com
