Smith & Nephew Endoscopy's OSTEORAPTOR(TM) Anchor Provides Bioabsorbable Solution for Labral Tears in the Hip and Shoulder
26 February 2009 - 12:35AM
PR Newswire (US)
First hip anchor made from bioabsorbable Hydroxyapatite (HA)
ANDOVER, Mass., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smith &
Nephew's (NYSE: SNN)(LSE:SN) Endoscopy Division has announced the
launch of the OSTEORAPTOR Anchor for repair in the hip and
shoulder. The device is showcased at the American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting (AAOS), which begins today in
Las Vegas. During 2009, surgeons will perform an estimated 15,000
labral repair procedures in the hip joint and an estimated 185,000
procedures for the shoulder. Labral repairs are necessary when the
labrum, the fibrous cartilage ring that rims the joint socket,
tears or becomes stretched due to impingement or acute injury.
Damage to the labrum in the hip may be a source of chronic pain and
may also contribute to osteoarthritis. In the shoulder, this damage
can lead to instability where the upper arm bone slips out of the
socket. In standard procedures, surgeons reattach the labrum to the
bony socket of the joint using small anchors and suture. Smith
& Nephew Endoscopy's new OSTEORAPTOR Anchor is the first hip
anchor to use Polylactic Acid Hydroxyapatite (PLLA-HA). The key
ingredient, Hydroxyapatite (HA), is a mineral found naturally in
bone. Studies have shown that the presence of HA increases the
anchor's strength and introduces chemicals that promote the
formation of a strong bond between the anchor and the bone
surface.(1) The anchor is available in 2.3 and 2.9 mm sizes. The
OSTEORAPTOR 2.3 mm Anchor for use in the hip, is the smallest
bioabsorbable hip anchor on the market. Typically, surgeons use
multiple anchors to repair labral tears. The anchors' size gives
the surgeon the ability to place them more precisely within the
tight confines of the joint space. "Labral repair in the hip is
challenging to perform arthroscopically because of the lack of
anchors and instrumentation designed for the confines of this
difficult-to-access joint capsule," said Dr. Marc Philippon of the
Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo., and one of the world's top
hip surgeons. "The OSTEORAPTOR Anchor is designed so that labral
tears can be repaired more precisely and securely, which is a
benefit to surgeon and patient alike." Based on surgeon feedback,
the OSTEORAPTOR Anchor system incorporates many features of the
previously released BIORAPTOR(TM) Anchor line - including the
implant rib design and the instrumentation used to deliver the
implant. Because they are molded from bioabsorbable PLLA-HA, the
anchor is invisible on x-ray and does not distort images captured
using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. "We actively engage with our
surgeon customers to gain a more thorough understanding of their
needs," said Alain Tranchemontagne, Senior Vice President of
Marketing for Smith & Nephew Endoscopy. "The OSTEORAPTOR
Anchors for hip and shoulder labral repair provide the features
that our customers communicate they are looking for in a repair
device, and we're pleased to bring them to market for the benefit
of hip and shoulder patients worldwide." (TM)Trademark of Smith
& Nephew. Certain Marks Reg. U.S. Pat. & T.M. Off. (1)
Landor I. Vavrik P. Sosna A. Jahoda D. Hahn H, Daniel M.
Hydroxyapatite porous coating and the osteointegration of the total
hip replacement. Arch Orthop. Trauma Surg. 2007 Feb; 127(2):81-9.
Epub2006 Sep30. Contact: Joe Metzger Sr. Vice President, Corporate
Communications Smith & Nephew Endoscopy (978) 749-1330 About Us
Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business,
specialising in Orthopaedics, including Reconstruction, Trauma and
Clinical Therapies; Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management. Smith
& Nephew is a global leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound
management and is one of the leading global orthopaedics companies.
Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives.
The Company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with
its surgeons and professional healthcare customers, with whom its
name is synonymous with high standards of performance, innovation
and trust. The Company operates in 32 countries around the world.
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on which any such statement is based. DATASOURCE: Smith &
Nephew CONTACT: Joe Metzger, Sr. Vice President, Corporate
Communications of Smith & Nephew Endoscopy, +1-978-749-1330,
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