Artificial joint prosthesis, is it better to have a domestic one? Or imported ones?

  For patients who need artificial joint replacement surgery (either hip or knee replacement), they are often faced with the need to choose between a domestic or an imported prosthesis. The main thing is that there is a difference in price, and generally speaking, imported joints can be more than 10,000 yuan more expensive than domestic joints. However, at present, all domestic joints, almost all of which are imitations, rarely have their own design and experimental basis. Since it takes a long period of time from joint production, application for approval, to application in the clinic in China, coupled with the fact that the original imitation is an old product, the joint products are often backward.  In addition, domestic joints lag behind imported joints in terms of both prosthetic materials, processing techniques, and the adaptability of surgical instruments and prostheses. Therefore, the current situation is that domestic joints are mainly used in primary hospitals (level 2 hospitals). Imported joints are mostly used in level 3 hospitals.  The most fundamental thing is that, in terms of clinical results, the majority of imported joints can last more than 20 years after surgery, while the majority of domestic joints may last less than 20 years after surgery. As people are the most valuable, we should use the best prosthesis for our patients, so that they can suffer as little as possible (revision after failed joint surgery), even if it costs 10-20,000 yuan more (the total cost of domestic joint replacement is 20-30,000 yuan, and the total cost of import is 40-50,000 yuan), it is worth using it for a few more years. Therefore, our hospital is currently using imported joints. We not only want to provide the best surgical technique for our patients, but also help them choose the best and most suitable prosthesis. So that the patient can use it for as many years as possible.