What patients and clinicians should know first
Johnson & Johnson knee replacement implants are sold through its orthopaedics business, DePuy Synthes, so they are better viewed as a product portfolio than as one implant. The most visible knee family is ATTUNE, which includes primary total knee, cemented and cementless options, rotating platform and fixed bearing designs, medial stabilized designs, revision components and related digital planning or robotic-assisted tools.
A Johnson & Johnson implant is not automatically the right choice for every patient. Implant selection depends on anatomy, bone quality, ligament condition, surgeon experience, fixation strategy, revision risk and realistic activity goals after surgery. This overview summarizes public information from Johnson & Johnson MedTech, the FDA, AAOS OrthoInfo and joint registry reporting, without ranking any brand as “best.” You can also explore more in Implants.
For broader implant coverage and device-industry updates, visit the Implants section.
How Johnson & Johnson fits into the knee implant market
Johnson & Johnson’s knee replacement products sit within DePuy Synthes, the company’s orthopaedics business. DePuy has a long history in joint reconstruction, while Synthes brought a major trauma and orthopaedic technology platform into Johnson & Johnson after the 2012 acquisition. In current public product listings, DePuy Synthes markets knee solutions for primary total knee arthroplasty, partial knee replacement, revision knee surgery and surgical support technologies.
One important corporate update is that Johnson & Johnson announced on October 14, 2025, that it intended to separate its Orthopaedics business into a standalone company operating as DePuy Synthes. Company materials in 2026 described the process as subject to legal, regulatory and customary approvals, with completion anticipated in 2027. That announcement does not change the core clinical issue for a patient considering surgery: the implant decision should be made with the operating orthopaedic surgeon based on the specific knee, not the parent-company structure.
Main DePuy Synthes knee implant lines
The Johnson & Johnson knee replacement implant portfolio is centered on ATTUNE, but it also includes partial knee and revision systems. Product names can vary by geography, regulatory clearance, hospital purchasing contracts and surgeon preference. Patients should ask for the exact implant model and component labels used in their own case.
| Product or system | Typical role | What to understand |
|---|---|---|
| ATTUNE Primary Knee System | Total knee replacement | A broad primary knee platform used to replace damaged femoral, tibial and sometimes patellar joint surfaces. |
| ATTUNE Cementless Fixed Bearing Knee with AFFIXIUM technology | Cementless total knee option | Designed for biological fixation where bone grows into a porous surface; suitability depends heavily on bone quality and surgeon judgment. |
| ATTUNE Cementless Rotating Platform Knee | Cementless mobile-bearing option | Uses a rotating platform concept, but mobile-bearing designs have theoretical advantages and trade-offs rather than universal superiority. |
| ATTUNE Medial Stabilized Knee System | Total knee design option | Designed to support a more natural-feeling knee motion pattern, though individual outcomes still depend on surgical and patient factors. |
| ATTUNE Revision Knee System | Revision knee replacement | Used when a previous knee replacement must be revised because of loosening, wear, infection, instability, fracture or other causes. |
| SIGMA HP Partial Knee | Unicompartmental knee replacement | Used when damage is limited mainly to one compartment of the knee and the rest of the joint is suitable for partial replacement. |
These categories are useful for orientation, but they are not a shopping list. Hospitals do not choose implants in the same way consumers choose retail products. The final construct may include multiple components, sizes, bearing surfaces and fixation choices selected during preoperative planning and confirmed during surgery.
Design choices that matter more than the brand name
AAOS patient education materials describe total knee replacement as a resurfacing procedure: damaged cartilage and a small amount of bone are removed, then metal and medical-grade plastic components recreate the joint surfaces. Most modern systems, including DePuy Synthes knees, follow that broad concept. The clinical differences are usually in the details.
Cruciate-retaining and posterior-stabilized designs
In a cruciate-retaining design, the posterior cruciate ligament is preserved if it is healthy enough to help stabilize the knee. In a posterior-stabilized design, parts of the implant substitute for the posterior cruciate ligament through a post-and-cam mechanism. AAOS OrthoInfo notes that current evidence does not show one of these two broad design categories consistently lasts longer or delivers better results for every patient. The surgeon’s familiarity with the system and the condition of the patient’s ligaments often matter more than the label.
Fixed-bearing and mobile-bearing designs
Fixed-bearing knees attach the polyethylene insert firmly to the tibial base. Mobile-bearing or rotating platform knees allow limited insert rotation. DePuy Synthes offers rotating platform options within the ATTUNE family. However, a rotating platform does not make an implant automatically better. Mobile-bearing designs may suit certain surgical philosophies, but long-term outcome differences are not simple enough to reduce to one marketing claim.
Cemented and cementless fixation
Cemented fixation uses bone cement to secure components. Cementless fixation relies on a porous surface intended to allow bone ingrowth over time. DePuy Synthes markets cementless ATTUNE options, including systems with 3D-printed porous technology. Cementless knees may be considered for selected patients with suitable bone quality, but they are not appropriate for everyone. Older patients, people with poor bone stock or patients with complex deformity may still be better candidates for cemented fixation, depending on the surgeon’s assessment.
Total and partial knee replacement
Total knee replacement resurfaces the main knee compartments, while partial knee replacement treats only the damaged compartment. The SIGMA HP Partial Knee is one DePuy Synthes option for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. Partial knee surgery can preserve more native anatomy in selected patients, but it requires strict indications. If arthritis is widespread or ligaments are not suitable, total knee replacement is often more appropriate.
FDA clearance, recalls and safety signals
In the United States, many knee replacement components are regulated as Class II devices and cleared through the FDA 510(k) pathway when the manufacturer demonstrates substantial equivalence to a legally marketed predicate device. Public FDA 510(k) summaries for DePuy ATTUNE components describe total knee replacement prostheses made of femoral, tibial and patellar components intended to replace damaged knee articulation and reduce pain in patients with conditions such as osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or a failed previous implant.
A 510(k) clearance should not be read as a personal outcome prediction. It means the device met the regulatory requirements for marketing under that pathway. It does not mean every patient will have the same function, pain relief, wear pattern or implant longevity.
FDA recall records also need careful interpretation. A recall can involve one lot, one component, packaging, labeling, instruments or a broader device issue. For example, the FDA database lists a 2021 Class II recall for certain ATTUNE Rotating Platform Total Knee System tibial base lots related to potential damaged packaging; that recall was later listed as terminated on October 11, 2023. The database also lists a 2026 Class II recall involving one ATTUNE Revision Hinge femoral component size and lot, initiated by the firm in April 2026, with the stated reason involving external sterile packaging adhered to internal sterile packaging and potential sterility compromise. These examples do not mean that all ATTUNE implants were recalled. They show why patients should check the exact product code and lot information if they receive a recall notice or have concerns. See also: Fixation.
Adverse event databases require the same caution. FDA MAUDE reports can be useful for signal detection, but the FDA explains that Medical Device Reports are not intended to calculate adverse event rates, compare event rates across devices or prove that a device caused a reported event. Reports may be incomplete, underreported, duplicated or unverified. A patient who has pain, swelling, instability, warmth, drainage, fever or reduced function after knee replacement should contact the treating surgeon rather than trying to interpret database entries alone.
What outcomes data can and cannot tell you
Registry data provide a broader view than individual product claims. The AAOS American Joint Replacement Registry 2025 Annual Report analyzed more than 4.4 million hip and knee arthroplasty procedures with complete information from 2012 through 2024 across all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Registry reporting helps surgeons, hospitals and manufacturers track revision patterns, implant utilization and practice trends at scale.
However, registry data are not the same as a personalized forecast. A registry may show how categories of implants perform across large populations, but an individual result still depends on diagnosis, age, weight, bone quality, activity level, surgical alignment, infection prevention, rehabilitation, medical conditions and whether the surgery is a primary or revision procedure.
AAOS OrthoInfo states that more than 90% of modern total knee replacements are still functioning well 15 years after surgery. That broad statistic is reassuring, but it applies to modern total knee replacement as a procedure. It is not a promise about any specific Johnson & Johnson implant. Younger, more active patients may place higher lifetime demands on an implant. People with inflammatory disease, severe deformity, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis or prior knee surgery may face different risks.
Questions to ask before receiving a DePuy Synthes knee implant
If your surgeon recommends a Johnson & Johnson or DePuy Synthes knee system, the most useful next step is not to ask whether the implant is “the best.” Better questions focus on fit, evidence and follow-up.
- Which exact implant system and components do you plan to use? Ask whether the planned system is ATTUNE, SIGMA, a revision system or another DePuy Synthes product.
- Will the implant be cemented or cementless? Ask how your bone quality, age and activity level influence the fixation choice.
- Is this a cruciate-retaining, posterior-stabilized, medial stabilized, fixed-bearing or rotating platform design? Ask what that means for your knee anatomy.
- How often do you use this system? Surgeon experience with a specific implant platform can be clinically important.
- What registry or published evidence supports this choice? Ask for evidence relevant to your age group and diagnosis when available.
- How will I identify my implant later? Patients should receive implant card information or operative report details, including manufacturer, model and lot information.
- What symptoms should prompt urgent follow-up? Increasing pain, fever, wound drainage, new instability or sudden swelling should not be ignored.
Frequently asked questions
Are Johnson & Johnson knee replacement implants the same as DePuy Synthes implants?
In the knee replacement market, Johnson & Johnson products are generally associated with DePuy Synthes, its orthopaedics business. Patients may hear “J&J,” “DePuy” or “DePuy Synthes” used in the same discussion, but the operative report should identify the exact implant components.
Is the ATTUNE knee system recalled?
There have been FDA-listed recalls involving specific ATTUNE components or lots, including packaging-related recalls. That is different from saying the entire ATTUNE knee system has been recalled. Anyone concerned about a recall should compare their implant card or operative report with the exact recall product code, lot number and component description, then contact the surgeon or hospital.
How long do Johnson & Johnson knee replacement implants last?
No manufacturer can guarantee implant life for an individual patient. AAOS patient education states that more than 90% of modern total knee replacements are still functioning well 15 years after surgery. Longevity depends on many factors, including implant positioning, infection prevention, activity, body weight, bone quality and whether the procedure was primary or revision surgery.
Can I choose the implant brand myself?
Patients can and should ask questions, but implant selection is a surgical decision. The surgeon must match the implant to the patient’s anatomy, ligament status, deformity, bone quality and hospital resources. A patient’s role is to understand the recommendation, ask about alternatives and confirm how the implant will be tracked after surgery.
Are cementless Johnson & Johnson knee implants better than cemented ones?
Cementless and cemented fixation each have potential advantages. Cementless fixation may be attractive for selected patients with good bone quality, while cemented fixation has a long clinical history and remains widely used. The better option depends on the individual patient and the surgeon’s judgment, not on one universal rule.
Bottom line
Johnson & Johnson knee replacement implants should be evaluated through the DePuy Synthes product family, especially the ATTUNE platform, rather than as a single device. The key clinical issues are implant design, fixation method, patient selection, surgeon experience, regulatory status, recall specificity and long-term follow-up. For patients, the most practical approach is to ask for the exact implant name, understand why it fits the surgical plan and keep permanent records of the components used.