First comprehensive look at how metal-on-metal total hip replacements fail in patients

A study by Hospital for Special Surgery researchers has provided the first comprehensive look at just how metal-on-metal total hip replacements are failing in patients around the country. Made possible by what is thought to be the largest archive of failed joint replacements, the research should help doctors develop a better hip replacement for future patients. The study will be reported at the upcoming annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Feb. 7-11.

"This paper is the first step in what is a path to try to understand what the problems are with metal-on-metal joints," said Timothy Wright, Ph.D., Kirby Chair of Orthopedic Biomechanics at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). He said that information gleaned from the study should be useful in improving metal-polyethylene implants, the most common hip implant put in patients today

Zimmer and ISTO Technologies Announce Phase III Clinical Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Engineered Juvenile Cartilage to Repair Damaged Knees

Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE and SIX: ZMH), a global leader in musculoskeletal health, and ISTO Technologies, Inc., an orthobiologics company focused on developing breakthrough products to regenerate and restore function to damaged cartilage and bone, today announced a Phase III clinical study to evaluate DeNovo® ET Engineered Tissue Graft, an engineered cartilage implant intended to repair cartilage defects in the knee. DeNovo ET Graft is being developed under a collaborative relationship between ISTO and Zimmer.

"The DeNovo ET Graft program represents a natural extension to our early intervention and joint preservation portfolio," said Cheryl R. Blanchard, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at Zimmer. "This Phase III study will generate meaningful data on the potential of this novel biological solution for treatment of cartilage lesions earlier in the continuum of care."

MAKO Surgical Corp. Showcases MAKOplasty® Total Hip Arthroplasty at American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2012 Annual Meeting

MAKO Surgical Corp. (NASDAQ: MAKO), a leader in robotic arm assisted partial knee arthroplasty worldwide, today announced the MAKOplasty® Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) application will be featured at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2012 Annual Meeting (AAOS) being held on February 7-11, 2012 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California.

MAKOplasty® THA is the newest application for MAKO's RIO® Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic System. The RIO® system will be on exhibit at MAKO's AAOS Annual Meeting Booth #2353. During the meeting, experienced MAKOplasty® orthopedic surgeons will give presentations and hands-on demonstrations of the MAKOplasty® THA application.

BIOMET BRINGS PERSONALIZED APPROACH TO PARTIAL KNEE REPLACEMENTS

Biomet Orthopedics today announced the launch of the Signature™ Personalized Patient Care System for use with the Oxford® Partial Knee System. The Signature™ Personalized Patient Care system enables surgeons to preoperatively plan a knee replacement surgery and precisely place implants by using Signature™ custom positioning guides.

“With Signature™ and the Oxford® Partial Knee, surgeons now have state-of-the-art technology for patients undergoing partial knee replacement surgery,” said Dr. Michael Berend from the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery at St. Francis Health Hospital – Mooresville in Indianapolis.

Amedica Corporation Announces New Leadership Appointment to Guide Next Phase of Rapid Growth

Amedica Corporation, a spinal and reconstructive implant and instrument manufacturer focused on proprietary silicon nitride ceramic material platforms, today announced leadership appointments designed to drive the company's ambitious growth initiatives in the United States and abroad. 

To support the clinical and commercialization activities that will drive the company's growth, Amedica has appointed orthopaedic surgeon B. Sonny Bal, M.D., M.B.A., J.D., to its Board of Directors.

"As we enter our next stage of development and look forward to commercializing new generation of products, having a forward-thinking industry leader, like Sonny, on the board of the company is invaluable to our organization," said Max Link, chairman of Amedica's Board of Directors.

Nanodiamond Coatings Could Prevent Shedding of Metal Debris in Hip Implants

The safety of metal hip implants could be improved by nanodiamond coatings, a study by University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers has found. Although the coating itself could also shed particles, it appears that these are nontoxic and therefore safer than metal particles. By studying the nanodiamond particles interacting with macrophages in a dish, researchers concluded that the debris from the nanodiamonds should not cause toxicity or inflammation. Metal particle shedding releases metal ions into the bloodstream, which can cause inflammation and damage to the muscle and bone, as massive recalls by companies such as DePuy shows.

A 5th Circuit judge in Texas rules that preemption does not apply in a product liability lawsuit over a Stryker Corp. hip implant.

A federal judge in Texas ruled that preemption does not apply in the case of a product liability lawsuit over an allegedly defective Stryker Corp. (NYSE:SYK) hip implant.

Alton Bass sued Stryker in October 2009, 2 years after receiving undergoing hip replacement surgery involving 4 Stryker devices: a shell, an Accolate TMZ Plus hip stem, a V40 alumina femoral head and a Trident 0 alumina insert.

ConforMIS adds 22 patents to patient-specific implants and instrumentation systems portfolio.

ConforMIS, Inc. today announced it has completed its most productive period to date in the development of its intellectual property with the addition of 22 issued patents to its portfolio since January 2011. The core of its portfolio covers patient-specific implants and patient-specific instrumentation systems spanning applications in knee, hip, shoulder, small joint, and spine. With these recent patent awards, ConforMIS now owns or exclusively licenses more than 50 issued patents.

The company, a leader in the area of patient-specific implants and instrumentation systems, already possesses a substantial intellectual property portfolio consisting of more than 300 patents and patent applications. The IP portfolio covers a broad range of related areas including imaging software, image processing, implant design, surgical techniques, instrumentation, and manufacturing. Over the past year, ConforMIS has received a number of patents specifically in the area of patient-specific implants and instrumentation systems. A partial list is provided below.

New Minimally Invasive Hip Retractor Revolutionizes Anterior Hip Replacement Procedures

TeDan Surgical Innovations, industry leader in surgical access instrumentation, announces the launch of the Phantom Series MIS Anterior Hip Retractor System. TeDan Surgical's revolutionary hip retractor utilizes a system of adjustable surgical arms with attachable retractors, enabling surgeons to perform the entire procedure without a fracture table or a surgical assistant.

Dr. Lawrence Menendez and Dr. Daniel Allison, Orthopedic Surgeons at the University of Southern California Medical Center, partnered with TeDan Surgical to design and develop this innovative retractor.

U-M develops new system to reduce incidence of retained surgical instruments

It may sound like something from a TV medical drama, but the incidence of surgeons leaving something behind in the body is very real at hospitals across the country.

For decades, surgical teams have relied on counting -- and recounting -- the sponges, needles, blades, retractors, and other items used during operations.

But the University of Michigan Health System has created a new system using state-of-the-art technologies to insure that no foreign objects are left behind during surgery, reducing potentially serious medical errors.