Zimmer Biomet Holdings announced the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) in Japan approved the iTaperloc Complete and iG7 Hip System, the world’s first approved orthopedic implants with Iodine Technology that inhibits bacterial adhesion on the implant surface.

Implant-associated bacterial infection or Periprosthetic Joint Infection (PJI) remains one of the most common causes of revision and a challenging complication of total joint arthroplasty (TJA). PJI is estimated to occur in 1-2 per cent of primary TJA procedures and can have serious consequences. In fact, the mortality rate associated with PJI approaches the 5-year mortality observed in breast cancer (11 per cent) and far exceeds that of prostate cancer (1 per cent).

“Iodine Technology represents a significant advancement in orthopedic implant design,” said Professor Hiroyuki Tsuchiya, Director at Yokohama Sakae Kyosai Hospital and Emeritus Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Kanazawa University. Prof. Tsuchiya, who developed the technology, explained: “By integrating a controlled-release iodine layer through advanced anodization and electrophoresis, we created an implant that inhibits bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation during the postoperative period. This innovation combines simplicity and sophistication to help address the issue of PJI after total joint replacement.”