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November 2, 2018 OrthoSpineNews

MEMPHIS, Tenn.Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — OsteoRemedies®, LLC, a company focused on providing simple solutions to complex disorders, is pleased to announce the launch of the REMEDY SPECTRUM™️ GV Hip Spacer System and SPECTRUM™️ GV Bone Cement.  Building on its portfolio consisting of the only pre-made modular spacer system with Gentamicin for Hip, Knee and Shoulders, the REMEDY SPECTRUM™️ GV Hip System will provide surgeons with the first ever broad-spectrum treatment option with both Gentamicin and Vancomycin.

“We are very proud to have the first FDA cleared dual-antibiotic spacer system and bone cement offering,” stated Chris Hughes, President and Chief Executive Officer of OsteoRemedies®.  “Since we started the company in 2013, our commitment to the growing problem of treating joint infections has been our mission.  The amount of science, testing and clinical data supporting this launch is unparalleled in our space.  The addition of the SPECTRUM™️ GV portfolio, further enhances our vision for providing simple solutions for complex disorders for revision infection remedies and achieving a market leadership position in our niche.

The launch of the SPECTRUM™️ GV system will begin November 1- 4 at the American Academy of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) in Dallas, Texas where OsteoRemedies® will be exhibiting at Booth # 308.  In addition to the introduction of SPECTRUM™, OsteoRemedies® will also be showcasing the newly launched REMEDY® Acetabular Cup Spacer, which in conjunction with the REMEDY® Hip System, provides the only Pre-formed all PMMA hip spacer option on the market. The existing portfolio will also be displayed, including the REMEDY® Modular Hip, Knee and Shoulder Spacer, OSTEOBOOST®️ RBK and FLORASEAL®️ Microbial Sealant along with UNITE® Antibiotic Bone Cement.

About OsteoRemedies®, LLC 
OsteoRemedies provides simple solutions to complex musculoskeletal disorders.  Their first introduction was the REMEDY® Spacer System. This was the first available modular system for hip, knee and shoulder two-stage infection revision arthroplasty.  The REMEDY® Spacer System and REMEDY SPECTRUM™️ GV Hip Spacers are indicated for temporary use (maximum 180 days) as an adjunct to total joint replacement in skeletally mature patients undergoing a two-stage procedure due to a septic process and where gentamicin or gentamicin and vancomycin are the most appropriate antibiotics based on the susceptibility pattern of the infecting micro-organisms.  SPECTRUM™ GV Bone Cement is indicated for use with the REMEDY SPECTRUM™ GV Hip Spacer System.  Other product offerings include OSTEOBOOST®️ RBK and FLORASEAL®️ Microbial Sealant and UNITE®️ AB Bone Cement.

The Company’s web site for news releases and other information is http://www.osteoremedies.com.

Contact 
Eric Stookey 
info@osteoremedies.com

SOURCE OsteoRemedies

Related Links

http://www.osteoremedies.com


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November 1, 2018 OrthoSpineNews

IRVINE, Calif.Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — United Orthopedic Corporation, a leading international designer, manufacturer, and distributor of innovative orthopedic implants and instruments, today announced that the UTS™ (United Tri-tapered Short Stem) hip stem and an extension of the U-Motion II™ Acetabular System are now available to surgeons in the U.S.

“The UTS hip stem and U-Motion II extension reflect our commitment to addressing some of the challenges in today’s hip replacement market – reducing dislocations and providing solutions that support rapid recovery from surgery,” said Calvin Lin, President of United Orthopedic Corporation USA. “Since the launch of these products at this year’s American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting, we have received positive feedback from orthopedic surgeons, citing easier insertion of the hip stem, greater range of motion and improved stability.”

The UTS hip stem is a tapered wedge short stem suitable for less invasive primary hip replacement. It is designed for easier insertion through small incisions and requires simpler femoral preparation, enabling rapid recovery. Shorter stems preserve bone, which allows for more favorable conditions in future revisions.1 The UTS hip stem is available in 14 refined proximal sizes. Its features include standard and high offset options for restoring joint biomechanics, and a reduced lateral shoulder designed to conserve bone in the greater trochanter.

“The shortened stem length and plasma coating coupled with the unique shape and properties of the UTS stem afford greater stability at the time of implantation.” said Richard Steinfeld, M.D., a practicing orthopedic surgeon from Orthopaedic Center of Vero Beach, Fla. “This provides for greater bone conservation and affords patients the ability to fully weight bear immediately following their surgical procedure.”

“The UTS hip stem offers some unique advantages over other hip stems on the market. The proximal porous ingrowth surface and tapered design allows for early weight bearing while preventing subsidence. Multiple offset options are available, allowing fine tuning of the soft tissue balance and stability during surgery.” said Ronald Hillock, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at the Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center, in Las Vegas, Nev. “The instruments are well thought out and streamlined. I have been pleased with my initial UTS experience.”

The extension of the U-Motion II Acetabular System for total hip replacement surgery includes a 50mm acetabular cup and cup liner, which is compatible with the 36mm BIOLOX® delta ceramic and CoCrMo metal femoral heads. The 36mm femoral head with the new U-Motion II 50mm Acetabular cup is designed to provide patients a greater range of motion2, increase jumping distance, improve stability and lower the risk of dislocation.

The demand for primary total hip arthroplasties is estimated to grow by 174% to 572,000 by 2030, while the demand for hip revisions is projected to double by 2026.3 Dislocation continues to be one of the most common causes of failure after primary and revision total hip arthroplasty. Clinical studies show large femoral heads decrease the incidence of dislocation after total hip arthroplasty. 4

About United Orthopedic Corporation

United Orthopedic Corporation is a leading international designer, manufacturer and distributor of innovative, regulatorily compliant orthopedic implants and instrument sets. The company offers clinically proven solutions used in primary and revision total hip/knee replacement in addition to oncology applications. The company operates Quality Management Systems compliant with ISO 13485, FDA and CE requirements. To learn more visit www.uocusa.com.

Media Contact

Erich Sandoval
Lazar Partners Ltd. 
Tel: +1 917-497-2867
Email: esandoval@lazarpartners.com

1 Molli RG,et al. A Short Tapered Stem Reduces Intraoperative Complications in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2012 Feb;470(2):450-61.

2 Guyen O. Constrained liners, dual mobility or large diameter heads to avoid dislocation in THA. EFORT Open Reviews. 2016;1(5):197-204. doi:10.1302/2058-5241.1.000054.

3 Kurtz, et al. Projections of primary and revision hip and knee arthroplasty in the United States from 2005 to 2030. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007 Apr;89(4):780-5.

4 Howie, et al. Large femoral heads decrease the incidence of dislocation after total hip arthroplasty: a randomized controlled trial. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2012 Jun 20;94(12):1095-102. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.K.00570.

SOURCE United Orthopedic Corporation

Related Links

http://www.uocusa.com


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November 1, 2018 OrthoSpineNews

November 01, 2018

CASTEL SAN PIETRO, Switzerland & DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Medacta International, the privately held, family-owned global leader in the design of innovative joint replacement and spinal surgery products, today announced it has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the GMK® Sphere – Kinematic Alignment instrumentation and surgical technique for total knee replacement (TKR). The manual instrumentation and technique are components of the new Medacta Individualized Kinematic Alignment (MIKA) offering, which is based on the kinematic alignment surgical approach, an alternative to traditional mechanical alignment for TKR that has demonstrated significant benefits for appropriate knee arthroplasty patients. Medacta collaborated on the development of the instrumentation with renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Stephen Howell, a pioneer in kinematically aligned total knee replacement at Adventist Health Lodi Memorial (Lodi, California).

“Kinematic alignment will play a significant role in the future of total knee replacement and is an extremely effective alignment option for most patients,” said Dr. Howell, who has been practicing a version of the technique for over a decade. “This approach, which co-aligns the axes of the components with the three kinematic axes of the native knee, offers many benefits to knee replacement candidates. The kinematic alignment technique has potential for faster recovery, quicker return to normal activities, overall, more comfort with the implant itself, and high long-term implant survival. The use of the caliper technique and the recording of intraoperative checks restores the native joint lines, limb alignment, compartment forces, and laxities of the pre-arthritic knee with high reproducibility with few ligament releases. In working with Medacta, we’ve put together a program that builds on the benefits of this surgical strategy while opening it up to even more surgeons looking to learn and practice the approach.”

The kinematic alignment technique aims to restore normal knee function by resurfacing the femur and tibial articular surfaces to those of the normal or pre-arthritic state. This approach is aimed at achieving optimal patient satisfaction and function, while minimizing damage to the surrounding tissues and ligaments. Studies and patient outcomes are starting to create awareness that kinematic alignment may offer benefits for appropriate knee arthroplasty patients.

Kinematic Alignment will be an addition to Medacta’s efforts towards personalized solutions and to the GMK Sphere Total Knee System, a medially stabilized design that facilitates taking full advantage of the kinematic approach due to its intrinsic design features.

Medacta looks to change the accessibility of kinematic alignment by providing dedicated educational tools through the M.O.R.E. Institute as well as new instrumentation. In addition to traditional metal instrumentation, a dedicated planning protocol for patient-specific instruments (MyKnee®) will allow surgeons to ease into the technique through the use of surgeon-specified parameters.

“Medacta is committed to cutting-edge medicine and new surgical approaches that advance orthopedics, focusing on personalized medicine and improving the overall patient experience,” said Francesco Siccardi, Chief Executive Officer of Medacta International. “Our success in this area stems from our steadfast dedication to surgeon education, particularly around new strategies like Kinematic Alignment. Similar to how we disseminated the anterior approach to hip surgery through our AMIS education program, the MIKA procedure will be a new discipline within our M.O.R.E. Institute, as we look to bring this promising innovation – and all of its patient benefits – into the mainstream.”

This innovation will be on display at the 2018 American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) Annual Meeting this week in Dallas and will launch more broadly in Spring 2019. Visit Medacta at Booth #215 onsite at AAHKS to see the new GMK Sphere – Kinematic Alignment instrumentation and explore the company’s full portfolio of orthopedic technologies.

About Medacta International

Medacta International is a world leading company, developer and supplier, specializing in joint replacement, spine surgery, and sports medicine solutions. Medacta’s revolutionary approach and responsible innovation, focusing on Minimally Invasive Solutions and Personalized Medicine, have resulted in standard of care breakthroughs in hip replacement with the AMIS® system and total knee replacement with MyKnee® patient matched technology. Medacta has grown dramatically by taking a different approach and placing value on all aspects of the care experience from design to training to sustainability. Medacta is headquartered in Castel San Pietro, Switzerland, operates in over 30 countries around the globe, and employs more than 930 people. To learn more about Medacta International, please visit www.medacta.com or follow @Medacta on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Contacts

For Medacta International
Emy Gruppo, 203-247-5856
emy@torchcomllc.com


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November 1, 2018 OrthoSpineNews

November 01, 2018

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–DJO, a leading provider of medical technologies designed to get and keep people moving, announced today the availability of the industry’s first Outpatient Arthroplasty Risk Assessment tool, the OaraScore™. The easy-to-use software tool provides medical professionals with the information needed to assess the appropriate post-operative length of stay after total joint arthroplasty (TJA).

The ability to identify patients for outpatient joint replacement surgery with a validated and consistent tool is essential to any rapid discharge program. With the removal of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) inpatient-only list, hospitals need effective tools to determine the appropriate patient length of stay and to minimize re-admission rates, two major drivers of cost in the TJA episode of care.

Among the more well-known factors leading to the shift of TJAs to the outpatient ambulatory setting are:

  • Improvements in implant technology and medical techniques;
  • Growing evidence that joint replacement surgeries can be performed safely and cost-effectively without an inpatient hospitalization; 1
  • Increasing consumer demand for care in lower-cost settings as well as a preference for at-home recovery. 2

The commercial introduction of the OaraScore was announced at the 2018 Annual Meeting of American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS, Booth # 510).

The OaraScore is part of DJO’s industry-leading healthcare solutions platform, MotionMD®. The subscription-based, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) tool was developed for DJO leading proprietary implant technologies such as the EMPOWR Knee and Hip Systems but can also be used for other implant systems. The OaraScore was developed in partnership with R. Michael Meneghini, MD, Director of Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement and Peter Caccavallo, MD, Medical Director of Peri-Operative Medicine, both from Indiana University Health Saxony Hospital.

The OaraScore utilizes a validated, multi-disciplinary algorithm that was featured in a peer-reviewed study published in The Journal of Arthroplasty in August 2017 by Dr. Michael Meneghini. The retrospective study, “Safe Selection of Outpatient Joint Arthroplasty Patients with Medical Risk Stratification: The “Outpatient Arthroplasty Risk Assessment Score” revealed a patient’s OaraScore for total joint replacement more precisely predicted the ability for the patient to discharge home the same day or the next morning than existing risk tools, such as ASA and CCI.3

“Surgeons generally have a good sense of which patients will do well in an outpatient or rapid discharge environment,” said Dr. Peter Caccavallo. “OaraScore allows the medical professionals to move beyond that standard and utilize a scientifically sound and consistent approach to risk stratification.”

The utility and favorability of the tool has also been independently validated in an AAHKS podium presentation by Duke University researchers in 2016 and in an independent study by New York University Langone Medical Center (link) published in The Journal of Arthroplasty in August 2018.4,5

While several factors lead to OaraScore’s improved effectiveness, a key differentiator is that OaraScore™ is the first patient selection tool developed specifically for total joint replacement patients.

“Previous risk stratification tools looked at more superficial measures like patient motivation, home support and pre-operative physical and mental condition,” said Jeffery A. McCaulley, Global President of DJO Surgical®. “OaraScore is the only clinically validated, peer reviewed risk stratification tool for total joint arthroplasty, and its values are derived by evaluating nine critical co-morbidity factors and overall medical conditions, all in real time.”

In addition to utilizing OaraScore to determine if patients are low risk or high risk for outpatient joint replacement surgery, the software also tracks readmission rates and compares data to all other physicians utilizing the tool. All confidential patient data remains encrypted throughout the process.

“OaraScore provides medical professionals with a more consistent and verifiable methodology to reliably and safely base admission decisions,” said McCaulley. “Considering the flexibility, portability and ease of use of this tool, we believe OaraScore could become the standard of clinical practice.”

MotionMD® is an intuitive, web-based, point-of-care software solution designed to support claims management and inventory dispensing. This automated paperless solution can fully integrate with electronic medical records (EMR), electronic ordering, billing and practice management systems. The solution is designed to help orthopedic clinics improve patient satisfaction, better manage billing compliance and streamline workflow by providing seamless interoperability with clinic records. In October 2018, Motion MD has processed more than 1.5 million patient agreements since it launched in 2016.

On Thursday, November 1, 2018, at DJO Surgical’s Industry symposium in conjunction with the AAHKS 2018 Annual Meeting, Dr. Meneghini will present a more expansive data set from his previous August 2017 study while discussing outpatient total joint arthroplasty and patient selection.

For more information about OaraScore, please visit: djoglobal.com/oarascore

1. Barad, Steven J., Stephen M. Howell, and Joyce Tom. “Is a shortened length of stay and increased rate of discharge to home associated with a low readmission rate and cost-effectiveness after primary total knee arthroplasty?.” Arthroplasty today 4, no. 1 (2018): 107-112.

2. Rovinsky, Michael; Looby, Sean, and Zacchigna, Laura. “The shift to outpatient TKA – what’s the big deal?.” HFM Magazine July 2018.

3. Meneghini, R. Michael, Mary Ziemba-Davis, Marshall K. Ishmael, Alexander L. Kuzma, and Peter Caccavallo. “Safe selection of outpatient joint arthroplasty patients with medical risk stratification: the “outpatient arthroplasty risk assessment score”.” The Journal of arthroplasty 32, no. 8 (2017): 2325-2331.

4. Henderson, Robert, et al. “External Clinical Validation of the OARA Score for Outpatient Joint Arthroplasty Candidates”. Podium Presentation at AAHKS Meeting 2016, Paper #26.

5. Kim, Kelvin Y., James E. Feng, Afshin A. Anoushiravani, Edward Dranoff, Roy I. Davidovitch, and Ran Schwarzkopf. “Rapid Discharge in Total Hip Arthroplasty: Utility of the Outpatient Arthroplasty Risk Assessment Tool in Predicting Same-Day and Next-Day Discharge.” The Journal of arthroplasty (2018).

Dr. R. Michael Meneghini is a consultant for DJO Global.

Dr. Peter Caccavallo is a consultant for DJO Global.

About DJO®

DJO® is a leading global developer, manufacturer and distributor of high-quality medical devices that provide solutions for musculoskeletal health, vascular health and pain management. The Company’s products address the continuum of patient care from injury prevention to rehabilitation after surgery, injury or from degenerative disease, enabling people to regain or maintain their natural motion. Its products are used by orthopedic specialists, spine surgeons, primary care physicians, pain management specialists, physical therapists, podiatrists, chiropractors, athletic trainers and other healthcare professionals.

In addition, many of the Company’s medical devices and related accessories are used by athletes and patients for injury prevention and at-home physical therapy treatment. The Company’s product lines include rigid and soft orthopedic bracing, hot and cold therapy, bone growth stimulators, vascular therapy systems and compression garments, therapeutic shoes and inserts, electrical stimulators used for pain management and physical therapy products. The Company’s surgical division offers a comprehensive suite of reconstructive joint products for the hip, knee and shoulder. DJO Global’s products are marketed under a portfolio of brands including Aircast®, Chattanooga®, CMF™, Compex®, DonJoy®, ProCare®, DJO Surgical®, Dr. Comfort® and Exos®. For additional information on the Company, please visit www.DJOGlobal.com.

Contacts

DJO
Ashley Brown, 512-348-9098
Marketing Communications Manager
ashley.brown@djoglobal.com


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November 1, 2018 OrthoSpineNews

November 01, 2018

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–DJO, a leading provider of medical technologies designed to get and keep people moving, introduced the EMPOWR Porous™ Knee System and EMPOWR™ Complex Primary Knee System at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) today (Booth # 510). These new additions to the EMPOWR™ Knee Platform expand one of the industry’s most modern total knee replacement systems, which now offers primary, cementless primary, complex primary, and tibial revision solutions for surgeons and patients.

EMPOWR Porous Knee System is based on two decades of clinical experience and highly porous materials designed to enhance early implant fixation, while creating an ideal environment for both immediate and long-term biologic fixation.1 DJO’s industry leading surface coating technologies, including DJO’s proprietary, highly porous coating, P2™ aids in bone apposition for superior in-growth performance.1 EMPOWR Porous’ bladed keel has a bone sparing geometry optimized for cementless application.2 The bladed keel of the asymmetric baseplate was developed to provide robust fixation, while the cruciform pegs provide initial component fixation and durable rotational stability.2

EMPOWR Complex Primary Knee System, with the EMPOWR Universal Tibial Baseplate and EMPOWR Varus Valgus Constraint (VVC) Tibial Insert expand the utility of the EMPOWR Knee Platform and provide a wider range of solutions for complex primary and revision knee arthroplasty. These new implant technologies are designed to provide an efficient and seamless transition from standard primary to revision knee procedures, with a minimal number of additional instruments and trays. The EMPOWR Universal Tibial baseplate maintains the EMPOWR System’s characteristic asymmetric footprint which maximizes cortical coverage and prevents component overhang to ensure long-term fixation without tissue irritation4. This baseplate also provides the ability to stem and augment when more supplementary fixation is required. The VVC insert is offered in e+™ polyethene, formulated to reduce long-term wear3, while the insert is designed to provide the necessary support and stability in knees with supportive soft tissue deficiencies.

“DJO has a proven record of bringing high quality products to market with incredible cadence – faster than any other implant company today,” said Dr. Eugene S. Krauss, orthopedic surgeon with Northwell Health. “In 2018 alone, the EMPOWR Porous Knee and EMPOWR Complex Primary Knee launches have significantly expanded our ability to treat a wide variety of patients in our practices.”

“The efficiency of DJO’s instrument trays and the streamlined instrumentation enables my surgical team and I to perform up to 12 knee replacements in a single day, making the system well-suited for both hospital and ambulatory surgery center environments,” said Dr. Krauss.

Over the past decade, the science of highly porous metals, including DJO’s P2, has significantly advanced, helping to improve implant longevity and ultimately patient outcomes. These scientific advancements coupled with a younger, healthier patient population, have resulted in a resurgence of cementless knee arthroplasty. Therefore, the contemporary design of the EMPOWR Porous Knee, is certain to have a meaningful impact on the market.

“DJO Surgical’s strong growth over the past few years is a reflection of our commitment to developing products and solutions that help improve clinical outcomes and enhance patient experience,” said Jeffery A. McCaulley, Global President of DJO Surgical®. “Our continued expansion of the EMPOWR Platform reflects the overwhelmingly positive reaction we’ve received from surgeons and patients since the first EMPOWR Knee System was launched here at AAHKS in 2015.”

The complete line of products in the EMPOWR Platform include:

  • EMPOWR 3D Knee® System
  • EMPOWR PS Knee® System
  • EMPOWR CR Knee® System
  • EMPOWR Porous™ Knee System
  • EMPOWR™ Complex Primary Knee System

For more information about the EMPOWR Porous Knee System, the EMPOWR Complex Primary Knee System or the entire EMPOWR Knee Platform, visit https://www.djoglobal.com/empowr or at AAHKS Booth # 510.

Dr. Eugene S. Krauss is a paid consultant for DJO® Global.

1.

P2™ Testing Summary 0020327-001 Rev A 10/14

2.

Bhimji, Safia, and R. Michael Meneghini. “Micromotion of cementless tibial baseplates: keels with adjuvant pegs offer more stability than pegs alone.” The Journal of arthroplasty 29, no. 7 (2014): 1503-1506.

3.

e+ Surgeon Testing Summary 0011110-004

4.

Dai, Yifei, Giles R. Scuderi, Jeffrey E. Bischoff, Kim Bertin, Samih Tarabichi, and Ashok Rajgopal. “Anatomic tibial component design can increase tibial coverage and rotational alignment accuracy: a comparison of six contemporary designs.” Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 22, no. 12 (2014): 2911-2923.

About DJO®

DJO® is a leading global developer, manufacturer and distributor of high-quality medical devices that provide solutions for musculoskeletal health, vascular health and pain management. The Company’s products address the continuum of patient care from injury prevention to rehabilitation after surgery, injury or from degenerative disease, enabling people to regain or maintain their natural motion. Its products are used by orthopedic specialists, spine surgeons, primary care physicians, pain management specialists, physical therapists, podiatrists, chiropractors, athletic trainers and other healthcare professionals.

In addition, many of the Company’s medical devices and related accessories are used by athletes and patients for injury prevention and at-home physical therapy treatment. The Company’s product lines include rigid and soft orthopedic bracing, hot and cold therapy, bone growth stimulators, vascular therapy systems and compression garments, therapeutic shoes and inserts, electrical stimulators used for pain management and physical therapy products. The Company’s surgical division offers a comprehensive suite of reconstructive joint products for the hip, knee and shoulder. DJO Global’s products are marketed under a portfolio of brands including Aircast®, Chattanooga®, CMF™, Compex®, DonJoy®, ProCare®, DJO Surgical®, Dr. Comfort® and Exos®. For additional information on the Company, please visit www.DJOGlobal.com.

Contacts

DJO
Ashley Brown
Marketing Communications Manager
512.348.9098
ashley.brown@djoglobal.com


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October 31, 2018 OrthoSpineNews

By Melanie Evans / Aug. 21, 2018

For nearly a decade, Gundersen Health System’s hospital in La Crosse, Wis., boosted the price of knee-replacement surgery an average of 3% a year. By 2016, the average list price was more than $50,000, including the surgeon and anesthesiologist.

Yet even as administrators raised the price, they had no real idea what it cost to perform the surgery—the most common for hospitals in the U.S. outside of those related to childbirth. They set a price using a combination of educated guesswork and a canny assessment of market opportunity.

Prompted by rumblings from Medicare and private insurers over potential changes to payments, Gundersen decided to nail down the numbers. During an 18-month review, an efficiency expert trailed doctors and nurses to record every minute of activity and note instruments, resources and medicines used. The hospital tallied the time nurses spent wheeling around VCR carts, a mismatch of available postsurgery beds, unnecessarily costly bone cement and delays dispatching physical therapists to get patients moving.

The actual cost? $10,550 at most, including the physicians. The list price was five times that amount.

Competitive forces are out of whack in health care. Hospitals are often ignorant about their actual costs. Instead, they often increase prices to meet profit targets. Patients, especially those with insurance, often don’t know the price of a procedure and rarely shop around.

This dynamic is a driving force in the explosion in health-care spending in the U.S., which will soon reach close to 20% of GDP. Americans spend more per capita on health care than any other developed nation, even though they aren’t buying more health care overall. The rise in hospital prices has outpaced economywide inflation for decades. “When price isn’t tightly linked to cost, that is a sign that the market isn’t competitive,” said Harvard economist Leemore Dafny.

Hospitals can be shielded from the competition that forces other industries to wring out expenses and slash prices. Hospital list prices are a starting point for negotiations with insurance companies over what they will actually pay, and those deals are confidential. Consolidation has given hospitals greater pricing power in many markets, according to health-economics researchers.

“Being cost effective was not an imperative in that type of market dynamic,” said Derek Haas, chief executive officer of Avant-garde Health, a health-care cost and quality analytics company that worked with Gundersen.

On knee-replacement surgery, higher-cost hospitals spent almost twice the amount lower-cost hospitals spent, despite largely similar quality and roughly comparable patients, research by Mr. Haas and Harvard Business School Professor Robert Kaplan showed.

“It’s a standard procedure” that doesn’t vary much from one hospital to another, and nor should its costs, Mr. Kaplan said. “Carve out the old knee and put in a new joint.”

 

READ THE REST HERE


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October 30, 2018 OrthoSpineNews

SAN DIEGOOct. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — BoneSmart and Maxx Orthopedics are pleased to announce an exciting partnership to develop educational content for patients undergoing knee replacement surgery.

BoneSmart® is the largest joint replacement community in the world. More than 2.5 million unique users come to BoneSmart.org each year looking for information about joint replacement, in addition to searching for the orthopaedic surgeons that perform them.

The site offers joint replacement candidates and patients:

  • Information about hip, knee, and shoulder replacement surgery options, implants, and technologies as well as pre- and post-operative planning.
  • Access to the world’s largest online joint replacement patient support forum, staffed with over a dozen dedicated moderators.
  • Ability to find orthopaedic surgeons.

The collaboration between BoneSmart® and Maxx Orthopedic brings together an independent, educational platform for patients and a rapidly growing orthopaedic implant manufacturer in the world.

“BoneSmart is excited about this collaboration which brings Maxx Orthopedics’ Freedom Knee® implants and surgeons to our patient community,” said Mark Sacaris, CEO, BoneSmart, LLC.

The opportunities for Maxx Orthopedics are to provide awareness and education on its Freedom Knee® System to BoneSmart patients, as well as, connect BoneSmart patients to orthopaedic surgeons that use these implants.

“Maxx Orthopedics is excited about this collaboration, which brings together our Freedom Knee® System and surgeons to BoneSmart’s robust patient community,” said Ashesh Shah, CEO, Maxx Orthopedics.

ABOUT BONESMART
BoneSmart.org is the award-winning website for a public-awareness and patient advocacy organization for joint replacement patients. BoneSmart is part of The Foundation for the Advancement in Research in Medicine, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public benefit organization, supported by donations and underwriting from corporate partners.

BoneSmart® is dedicated to raising awareness about the latest joint replacement options, fostering a supportive community through the world’s largest joint replacement forum where members can share experiences, knowledge, and stories.  BoneSmart produces the annual Joint Replacement Awareness Day® program to bring together the global joint replacement community through the JointAwareDay.org website.

ABOUT MAXX ORTHOPEDICS
Maxx Medical Pvt. Ltd. (“Maxx Medical”) develops and markets innovative orthopedic medical devices on an international scale. The company is focused on providing state-of-the-art implants and related solutions that best restore patient mobility while accommodating lifestyle, anatomical and economic needs. Maxx Medical is the parent company of Maxx Orthopedics, Inc., the manufacturer of the Freedom Knee® System.

Media Contact:
Mark Sacaris
Mark@bonesmart.org
(760) 815-6474

SOURCE BoneSmart, LLC

Related Links

http://www.bonesmart.org


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October 26, 2018 OrthoSpineNews

ROSEMONT, IllOct. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) announced the launch of its Shoulder and Elbow Registry (SER) to begin collecting data on total shoulder and elbow procedures in the United States. At launch, the SER will collect total shoulder arthroplasty procedures data. In 2019, the registry also will have the capability to capture rotator cuff repair and total elbow arthroplasty procedures data.

“Registries are tools to help the medical profession collect data, report, and benchmark to define patient-centered quality care to identify potential procedural or implant problems before it becomes a widespread public health issue. Other national joint replacement registries such as the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Register have proven that monitoring survivorship can reduce revision rates. That translates into reducing direct medical costs and, more importantly, improving patient care and quality of life,” says AAOS President David A. Halsey, MD, a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

The AAOS is the world’s largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists. The SER will be the second in a series of anatomical registries in development as part of the AAOS’ Registry Program to establish survivorship curves, track revisions, and improve quality of care for all patients. The American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR)—the Academy’s hip and knee replacement registry—is the cornerstone of the AAOS’s Registry Program, and the world’s largest national registry of hip and knee joint replacement data by annual procedural count, with more than 1.4 million procedures contained within its database.

“In addition to reducing the overall public cost, joint registries demonstrate up to a 50 percent reduction in revision rates after registry initiation and identification of best practices,” says Gerald R. Williams Jr., MD, chair of the AAOS’ SER Steering Committee and Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. “There are more than 750,000 total shoulder arthroplasty, rotator cuff repair, and total elbow arthroplasty surgeries performed in the United Stateseach year. An evidence-based registry, like the Shoulder and Elbow Registry, is a cost-effective way to benchmark risk-adjusted data, and provide greater context to patient outcomes comparisons. Identifying improvement needs can potentially mitigate surgical revisions which could lead to millions of dollars in stakeholder savings annually.”

The SER was developed in conjunction with representatives from the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, and the Arthroscopy Association of North America.

“In 1917, American shoulder surgery pioneer EA Codman challenged that patients should be followed long enough to determine if treatments proved successful. More than 100 years later, the AAOS and the ASES are taking a huge step toward that goal,” says Grant E. Garrigues, MD, a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. “Every ASES member must take up this charge and truly follow our shoulder patients’ outcomes, pool this data with other surgeons, and determine the optimal treatments for our patients. This registry is a powerful tool to make this possible. This type of data registry is the key to improving patient outcomes and defining best practices.”

About the AAOS
With more than 38,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) is the world’s largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists. The AAOS provides educational programs for orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals, champions and advances the highest quality musculoskeletal care for patients, and is the authoritative source of information on bone and joint conditions, treatments and related issues.

More information about the AAOS  
More information about the AAOS Shoulder and Elbow Registry  
Follow the AAOS on FacebookTwitter and Instagram

SOURCE American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Related Links

http://www.aaos.org


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October 23, 2018 OrthoSpineNews

October 23, 2018

AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–DJO (“DJO” or the “Company”), a leading provider of medical technologies designed to get and keep people moving, released a new clinical study to show that EMPOWR 3D Knee technology reduces patient dissatisfaction, and improves function and activity levels. Based on a multitude of studies on the biomechanics and kinematics of the knee joint, and more than 10 years of clinical heritage with DJO’s 3D Knee™, the EMPOWR 3D Knee® is the industry’s first “dual-pivot” technology, a breakthrough concept that is designed to better replicate the natural motion and feeling of the healthy knee.

With nearly 700,000 procedures performed in the U.S. each year, total knee replacement surgery (TKR) is one of the most widely accepted and effective treatments for relieving degenerative osteoarthritis pain and suffering. Unfortunately, nearly 20 percent of all patients – approximately 140,000 Americans each year1 – report they are not satisfied after their procedure, often claiming that their knee replacement “does not feel normal.”

EMPOWR 3D Knee® is one of the most functionally accurate prostheses ever created.1 EMPOWR 3D Knee®more closely recreates the natural dual-pivot motion pattern of the healthy knee throughout the entire range of motion, from early to deep flexion, creating a more natural feeling knee for the patient.1

Short term clinical results recently presented at the International Congress for Joint Reconstruction Hip and Knee Course in June 2018, demonstrate that the unique dual-pivot design of the EMPOWR 3D Knee® may offer far more natural motion for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients by more closely recreating the kinematics of a healthy human knee.2

The most significant clinical benefits of the EMPOWR 3D Knee® identified in the study include2:

  • Patient dissatisfaction is reduced by 50% compared to a competitive implant
  • Patient’s “knee feels normal” ~25% more often than with a competitive implant
  • Patients are over ~2X more active following surgery with the EMPOWR 3D Knee® versus a competitive knee implant

“Initial clinical results have been very encouraging for the EMPOWR 3D Knee®,” said presenter Dr. Michael Meneghini, MD, Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Indiana University School of Medicine. “Patients with the EMPOWR 3D dual-pivot knee implant are experiencing improved knee function and showing a greater likelihood of a normal feeling knee.”2

Dr. Scott Banks, PhD, Professor of Orthopedic and Joint Mechanics at the University of Florida, and Dr. Meneghini recently published an article in the journal Techniques in Orthopedics comparing the EMPOWR 3D Knee® implant to traditional knee implant designs. They concluded that contemporary dual-pivot design and kinematics of the EMPOWR 3D Knee® may contribute to improved function and satisfaction after TKR.1

“Clinical studies over the past decade have shown that healthy knees have a much more complex front-to-back and side-to-side motion than previously believed,” said Banks. “As a result, we now better understand why traditional knee arthroplasty designs have failed to accurately replicate normal knee activity and results in many patients feeling dissatisfied with their knee implant.”

“EMPOWR 3D Knee® patients tell us, ‘this knee just feels like my own,’ and that’s the whole point,” said Jeffery A. McCaulley, Global President of DJO Surgical®. “EMPOWR 3D Knee® goes beyond clinical effectiveness to deliver one of the most functionally accurate knee implants based on our novel dual-pivot design that helps to improve patient outcomes and patient satisfaction.”

For more information on the EMPOWR 3D Knee®, please visit: www.djoglobal.com/empowr.

1. Banks, Scott A., and Robert M. Meneghini. “Achieving More Natural Motion, Stability, and Function With a Dual-Pivot ACL-substituting Total Knee Arthroplasty Design.” Techniques in Orthopaedics 33, no. 1 (2018): 48-51.

2. “Replicating Native Knee Dual-Pivot Kinematics Improves Outcomes After Total Knee Arthroplasty” R. Michael Meneghini MD – ICJR South Presentation June 2018.

R. Michael Meneghini, MD is a consultant for DJO Global®.

Scott A. Banks, MD is a consultant for DJO Global®.

About DJO®

DJO® is a leading global developer, manufacturer and distributor of high-quality medical devices that provide solutions for musculoskeletal health, vascular health and pain management. The Company’s products address the continuum of patient care from injury prevention to rehabilitation after surgery, injury or from degenerative disease, enabling people to regain or maintain their natural motion. Its products are used by orthopedic specialists, spine surgeons, primary care physicians, pain management specialists, physical therapists, podiatrists, chiropractors, athletic trainers and other healthcare professionals.

In addition, many of the Company’s medical devices and related accessories are used by athletes and patients for injury prevention and at-home physical therapy treatment. The Company’s product lines include rigid and soft orthopedic bracing, hot and cold therapy, bone growth stimulators, vascular therapy systems and compression garments, therapeutic shoes and inserts, electrical stimulators used for pain management and physical therapy products. The Company’s surgical division offers a comprehensive suite of reconstructive joint products for the hip, knee and shoulder. DJO Global’s products are marketed under a portfolio of brands including Aircast®, Chattanooga®, CMF™, Compex®, DonJoy®, ProCare®, DJO Surgical®, Dr. Comfort® and Exos®. For additional information on the Company, please visit www.DJOGlobal.com.

Contacts

DJO Media Contact:
Ashley Brown
Marketing Communications Manager
512.348.9098
ashley.brown@djoglobal.com
or
DJO Investor Contact:
David Smith
SVP, Treasurer and Investor Relations
760.734.3075
IR@djoglobal.com


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October 17, 2018 OrthoSpineNews

LONDONOct. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Smith & Nephew (LSE: SN,NYSE: SNN), the global medical technology business, today announced at the Orthopaedic Trauma Association Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL USA two new studies showing positive clinical results and cost savings through using its INTERTAN Intertrochanteric Antegrade Nail.

Patients recovering from a hip fracture often deal with various complications, including decline in mobility and daily living activities, and reduced ability to walk following fracture union. More than 6% will require reoperation due to complications and approximately 1 in 4 patients over the age of 65 die within 12 months of fracture.1,2,3

In a meta-analysis published in Rheumatology and Orthopedic Medicine, the INTERTAN implant, which uses the Smith & Nephew proprietary “Integrated Compression Screw”, was compared to other intertrochanteric nails using a customary “single screw”. The results showed that INTERTAN significantly reduced the risk of implant related failures by 81% (p<0.00001) and revision surgery by 65% (p<0.0001) when compared to single screw nails.4

According to a further study, published in Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research, the improved clinical outcomes from the meta-analysis also led to a cost savings of $2700 USD per patient when using the INTERTAN nail compared to single screw nails.5

“Hip fractures and their sequelae in elderly patients can be debilitating, and potentially life threatening, and contribute a significant portion to overall health care expenditure. These new studies demonstrate that the Integrated Compression Screw used in the INTERTAN nail not only improved the clinical outcomes for these patients studied, but also reduced the cost to the overall health economic system by reducing the revision rates, compared to those that have been demonstrated in prior studies,” commented J. Tracy Watson MD, Orthopaedic Traumatologist,  Phoenix, Arizona and co-author for both papers.

“Smith & Nephew is dedicated to developing products that will improve patient lives. The INTERTAN nail is a prime example of the type of game-changing technology we at Smith & Nephew strive to create. These two publications show how true innovation can both make clinical improvement and provide economic benefits,” said Andy Weymann MD, Chief Medical Officer, Smith & Nephew.

For more information on the INTERTAN nail, please visit us at the Orthopaedic Trauma Association Annual Meeting, Booth #805 or online at hipfx.com.

About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business dedicated to helping healthcare professionals improve people’s lives. With leadership positions in Orthopaedic ReconstructionAdvanced Wound ManagementSports Medicine and Trauma & Extremities, Smith & Nephew has around 15,000 employees and a presence in more than 100 countries. Annual sales in 2017 were almost $4.8 billion. Smith & Nephew is a member of the FTSE100 (LSE: SN,NYSE: SNN).

For more information about Smith & Nephew, please visit our website www.smith-nephew.comfollow @SmithNephewplc on Twitter or visit SmithNephewplc on Facebook.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This document may contain forward-looking statements that may or may not prove accurate. For example, statements regarding expected revenue growth and trading margins, market trends and our product pipeline are forward-looking statements. Phrases such as “aim”, “plan”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “well-placed”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “target”, “consider” and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is expressed or implied by the statements. For Smith & Nephew, these factors include: economic and financial conditions in the markets we serve, especially those affecting health care providers, payers and customers; price levels for established and innovative medical devices; developments in medical technology; regulatory approvals, reimbursement decisions or other government actions; product defects or recalls or other problems with quality management systems or failure to comply with related regulations; litigation relating to patent or other claims; legal compliance risks and related investigative, remedial or enforcement actions; disruption to our supply chain or operations or those of our suppliers; competition for qualified personnel; strategic actions, including acquisitions and dispositions, our success in performing due diligence, valuing and integrating acquired businesses; disruption that may result from transactions or other changes we make in our business plans or organisation to adapt to market developments; and numerous other matters that affect us or our markets, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive or reputational nature. Please refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith & Nephew’s most recent annual report on Form 20-F, for a discussion of certain of these factors. Any forward-looking statement is based on information available to Smith & Nephew as of the date of the statement. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew are qualified by this caution. Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in circumstances or in Smith & Nephew’s expectations.

 Trademark of Smith & Nephew. Certain marks registered US Patent and Trademark Office.

References:

1. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Hip fractures in seniors: a call for health system reform. Position Statement 1144. Rosemont, IL: 1999.

2. Mundi S et al. Similar mortality rates in hip fracture patients over the past 31 years: A systematic review of RCTs. Acta Orthopaedica 2014; 85(1): 54-59.

3. Bentler SE, Liu L, Obrizan M, Cook EA, Wright KB, Geweke JF, et al. The aftermath of hip fracture: discharge placement, functional status change, and mortality. Am. J Epidemiol. 2009 Nov 15;170(10):1290-9. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwp266.

4. Nherera LM, Trueman P, Horner A, Johnstone AJ, Watson JT. A meta-analysis of integrated compression screw compared to single screw nails using a single lag screw or single helical blade screw for intertrochanteric hip fractures. Rheumatol Orthop Med 2018; 3(4): 1-10. doi: 10.15761/ROM.1000156

5. Nherera LM, Trueman P, Horner A, Johnston AJ, Watson JT, Fatoye FA. Comparing the costs and outcomes of an integrated twin compression screw (ITCS) nail with standard of care using a single lag screw or a single helical blade cephalomedullary nail in patients with intertrochanteric hip fractures. Journal of Orthopedic Surgery and Research (2018) 13:217. doi: 10.1186/s12018-018-0923-x

SOURCE Smith & Nephew

(PRNewsfoto/Smith & Nephew)

Related Links

http://www.smith-nephew.com