To unravel the mystery of how clinical outcomes in total joint orthopedics have become devoid of reliable guidance, let’s embark on a historical forensic journey through the decades of evolving implants, techniques, and conflicting studies.
The Dawn of Total Knee Replacements: The 1970s
The total joint segment of orthopedics began in earnest after bone cement received FDA approval in 1972, sparking early experiments with partial and total knee replacements. Pioneering designs like the Marmor Unicompartmental Knee and the Total Condylar Knee emerged as the first moderately successful implants. ...
