Orthopedics Hip & Knee Replacement Implants Artificial Knee and Hip Replacement Implant Info By Jonathan Cluett, MD twitter linkedin Jonathan Cluett, MD, is board-certified in orthopedic surgery. He served as assistant team physician to Chivas USA (Major League Soccer) and the United States men's and women's national soccer teams. Learn about our editorial process Jonathan Cluett, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Stuart Hershman, MD on September 22, 2020 linkedin Stuart Hershman, MD, is board-certified in orthopaedic surgery. He is the director of adult spinal deformity & complex spinal reconstruction at Massachusetts General Hospital and is on the faculty at Harvard Medical School. Learn about our Medical Review Board Stuart Hershman, MD Updated on February 05, 2021 Print During joint replacement surgery, the implants can be fixated (held in place) two ways. They may be press-fit implants that allow the body to form new bone connections to it. Or, they may be cemented in place. For some joints, hybrid fixation is used, with cement on one component and press-fit on the other. Monty Rakusen / Getty Images Press-Fit or Cementless Implants Press-fit implants have a rough surface on which the surrounding bone can grow. Bone is living tissue, and the new joint can stimulate it to grow into the new surface, which becomes more secure if there are indentations for it to grow onto for a strong connection. The surface of the implant either has a dimpled surface (grit blasted) or a rough surface (porous coated). This surface roughness allows the bone to grow onto the implant to hold it in place. A smooth surface would not have the same effect. Advantages: The advantage of a press-fit implant is that over time, the bone holds solidly to the implant, lessening the chance of the implant becoming loose.Disadvantages: Press-fit implants require solid bone for fixation, and must be fit very snug into the bone at the time of surgery. Therefore, weak, osteoporotic bone, will often not tolerate a press-fit implant. Press-fit implants also require time for the bone to grow into the implant. Even with normal bone, certain implants, such as knee replacements, cannot typically be held in place adequately without cement to hold the implant in position. Cemented Implants Cemented implants also fit tightly into the bone. Around the implant is a hard substance often referred to as cement or glue. It usually is polymethylmethacrylate, a fast-curing bone cement. This hard substance acts as a space-filler or grout and holds the implant solidly in position. Advantages: Cemented implants are as solid the day they are put into place as they will ever be. These implants can be placed more delicately, therefore they can be placed in the less-supportive bone.Disadvantages: Over time, cemented implants have a tendency to become loose. Because cement is not a living substance, once it begins to come loose, it is likely to continue to looosen over time. Type of Fixation Most Commonly Used Knee replacement: Different types of implants may be used for a knee replacement. Knee replacements are most often cemented into position. Some surgeons may opt to place press-fit implants, usually on the end of the thigh bone, for certain procedures. Foley cementless knee implants have been designed and are being used most commonly for younger people because they may last for a longer time. Hip replacement: Hip replacement implants are usually press-fit on the pelvis (socket) side. The femur (stem) can be either press-fit or cemented. Most surgeons press-fit the implant in patients who have stronger bone, and cement if there is a concern about bone quality.Revision implants: In cases of revision joint replacement (replacement of a joint replacement) other options than those listed above may be suggested. A longer stem might be needed and they may use metal augment pieces. A Word From Verywell Many joint replacement surgeries are routine, but some situations that may require specialized implants or a particular type of implant. Both cement and cementless joint replacement implants can be used effectively, but there may be certain situations where one is preferred over the other. Talk to your surgeon about the method that they intend to use to hold your joint replacement implant in the bone. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with joint pain can cause major disruptions to your day. Sign up and learn how to better take care of your body. Click below and just hit send! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Brown TE, Harper BL, Bjorgul K. Comparison of Cemented and Uncemented Fixation in Total Knee Arthroplasty. Orthopedics. 2013;36(5):380-7. doi:10.3928/01477447-20130426-10 Dalury DF. Cementless Total Knee Arthroplasty: Current Concepts Review. Bone Joint J. 2016 Jul;98-B(7):867-73. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.98B7.37367 Additional Reading Saleh KJ, El Othmani MM, Tzeng TH, Mihalko WM, Chambers MC, Grupp TM. Acrylic Bone Cement in Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Review. J Orthop Res. 2016;34(5):737-44. doi:10.1002/jor.23184