Custom Knee Replacement

Custom Knee Replacement - Knee Surgeon in Hobart

Total knee replacement is one of the most common treatments for knee osteoarthritis once medication is no longer effective. Despite how common the procedure is, some studies report that up to 30% of patients are dissatisfied with a standard total knee replacement. One reason for this is that people are simply not all the same shape, so fitting an off-the-shelf implant, available in a standard size range and a single design, to every different patient anatomy is inherently a compromise.

Every knee is unique

The anatomy of the knee is complex and varies significantly from person to person, depending on size, gender, physical activity and ethnicity. This makes your knee unlike anyone else's, which is the rationale behind a custom-made implant.

The ORIGIN® Knee

Mr Shalinder Sadiq offers the ORIGIN® Knee, manufactured by Symbios Orthopaedics, a Swiss company established in 1989, specialising in patient-matched orthopaedic implants and recognised as the world leader in this field. With the ORIGIN® Knee, each component (femoral, tibial and insert) is individually designed and manufactured to match your unique bone shape, size and natural alignment, aiming to restore your knee's function as close as possible to how it was before arthritis set in.

How your ORIGIN® Knee is made

Step 1 – A CT scan is taken of your knee

Step 2 – Your knee is analysed in 3D, and your implant is designed by a dedicated team of Symbios engineers

Step 3 – Mr Sadiq reviews and approves the 3D surgical plan

Step 4 – Your unique, individualised ORIGIN® implant is manufactured

Step 5 – Your new knee is delivered to the hospital in time for surgery

This process takes approximately 6–7 weeks from your scan to your implant being ready, which is worth factoring into your planning with Mr Sadiq.

The implant components

Femoral component – Cobalt chrome

Tibial insert – Polyethylene

Tibial component – Titanium

Advantages

  • Implant is matched to your own bone shape, size and alignment
  • A 2023 study (Bonnin et al., *Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology & Arthroscopy*) reported 94% patient satisfaction at a minimum 2-year follow-up with custom total knee replacement
  • A 2024 study (Vogel et al., same journal) found better 2-year functional outcomes with custom knee replacement compared with off-the-shelf implants
  • Aims to restore natural knee alignment and function

Considerations

  • Requires a pre-operative CT scan and a 6–7 week lead time for design and manufacture, so surgery dates need to be planned in advance
  • Not required for every patient; Mr Sadiq will advise whether a custom or standard implant is the more suitable option for you
RECOVERY

After your operation

Good recovery starts in hospital and continues well after you go home. Mr Sadiq and his team will guide you through physiotherapy and follow-up care at the following milestones:
Rooms review
2–3 weeks after surgery
Follow-up
6 weeks after surgery
Ongoing review
Every 12 months

If you have any concerns before your next appointment, or want more detail on what to expect at each stage, see our Recovery page, or call us on 03 6279 5798.

Is a custom knee right for you?

Not every patient requires a custom implant. Mr Sadiq will assess your anatomy and discuss whether the ORIGIN® Knee is the right option for you as part of your consultation.

Frequently asked questions for patients

Ready to take the next step in your care?

Book a consultation with Mr Sadiq, or register as a new patient to get started ahead of your visit.