Replace or Fuse? Can’t Decide?
By Dev Joshi (posted April 29, 2008)
An upcoming paper titled “Controversy of Total Ankle Arthroplasty” says the answer should increasingly be “replace.” Certainly as an outpatient procedure and with new technologies like Wright Medical’s new INBONE system, replacement/arthroplasty is on the rise. Using PearlDiver data we map out this very important market.
Put on Your Futuristic Headgear: Immersion Medical and GMV Sign Agreement for Reality Arthroscopy Simulation System
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted April 25, 2008)
So much for skiddishness about minimally invasive surgery…Immersion Corporation, a touch feedback technology firm, and GMV, an engineering firm, have announced that Immersion Medical, a wholly owned subsidiary of Immersion, and GMV have signed an agreement whereby Immersion Medical will market and sell GMV's insightArthroVR® virtual reality arthroscopy surgical simulator in most countries around the world.
Anesiva’s Adlea™ in Phase 3 Clinical Trial
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted April 17, 2008)
Keith knows knees. And Anesiva knows Adlea™. The company is announcing that it has embarked upon a Phase 3 study to evaluate Adlea in patients after total knee replacement surgery.
Log On and the Doctor Is In: Elsevier Expands Procedures Consult™
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted April 17, 2008)
Work on a keyboard before working on a patient! The medical publishing experts at Elsevier have announced that they have added three new modules to Procedures Consult™ in orthopedics, anesthesia and emergency medicine.
Geriatric Orthopedic Surgery – It’s the future, baby!
By Billie Young (posted April 8, 2008)
The number of patients over 65 years of age is increasing 10 times faster than those under 65. Is your practice ready? The average geriatric patient has 1.8x the complications of the non-geriatric patient. Medicare is now paying a small bounty to those surgeons willing to track comorbidities. Read how one orthopedist has made geriatric orthopedics her primary focus.
Anticoagulant Use After Joint Replacement May Contribute to Higher Mortality
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted April 3, 2008)
According to eBiologyNews, a recent study has found that the use of anticoagulants to prevent blockage in pulmonary artery after joint replacement operations may actually lead to more deaths among patients taking these drugs.
Cartilage Repair Leader TiGenix Updates Clinical Trial Results
By Robin Young (posted March 26, 2008)
As part of the company’s year-end review, management updated results from its large clinical trial of the ChondroCelect® cartilage repair product. TiGenix conducted a Phase III, pivotal clinical trial of a cartilage repair product for the knee.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Approval Sought
By Robin Young (posted March 24, 2008)
Centocor, Inc. and Schering-Plough Corporation announced that they have, collaboratively, submitted a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) requesting approval of golimumab (CNTO 148) as a monthly subcutaneous treatment for adults with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
UConn Researchers Tackle Arthritis With Stem Cells
By Robin Young (posted March 24, 2008)
A team of researchers from the University of Connecticut say that they have been able to turn human embryonic stem cells into the type of cells that make up cartilage. If confirmed by other labs, this work could add significantly to the understanding of the cellular processes underlying cartilage regeneration and an eventual cellular treatment for osteoarthritis.
AAOS Through a Mega-Buyer’s Eyes
By Robin Young (posted March 18, 2008)
Maryann, Scott, Brian, and Rudy buy orthopedic products for roughly half the surgeries in the United States. They were arguably the four most important buyers at this year’s AAOS exhibit floor. Yet few suppliers or surgeons realize who these buyers are or how important they are. Isn’t it time you knew? If so, read on.
S&N Launches R3™ Acetabular System
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted March 14, 2008)
Smith & Nephew’s Orthopaedic Reconstruction business today announced the global launch of the R3™ Acetabular System, an advanced multi-bearing acetabular cup system used in total hip replacement procedures.
Smith & Nephew Unveils New Suture Anchor
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted March 14, 2008)
It may sound like a dinosaur, but it’s the latest technology in sutures. Smith & Nephew's Endoscopy Division has announced the launch of the BIORAPTOR™ 2.3 PK Suture Anchor for repair of instability in the hip or shoulder joint.
ConforMIS, Inc. Introduces the First Patient-Specific Unicompartmental Knee Resurfacing Implant on the Market
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted March 3, 2008)
ConforMIS has announced the launch of the iUni™ unicompartmental knee resurfacing implant and its accompanying iJig™ disposable instrumentation. The iUni, to be used for osteoarthritis of the knee, is a unicompartmental resurfacing implant designed for patients whose arthritic damage is isolated to either the medial or lateral compartments of the knee, with little to no damage present in the other compartments.
The Good News About Bad News
By Scott Ellison (posted February 11, 2008)
Hypertension affects 16% of the U.S. population. But how does it affect patients undergoing hip or knee replacement surgery? Using the PearlDiver database of over 100 million patient records we turn up a surprising answer. Certain complication rates are lower for patients with high blood pressure than for similar patients. Curious to learn more? Read on.
ConforMIS Products Approved in All European Union Markets
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted February 22, 2008)
ConforMIS, Inc., a privately held company that develops and commercializes minimally invasive medical devices for the treatment of osteoarthritis and joint damage, announced that it has received CE Mark approvals for both the iUni™ uni-compartmental resurfacing device and the iJig™ instrument system for use with the iUni on December 3, 2007.
New Non-invasive Imaging Method for Diagnosing Osteoarthritis
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted February 15, 2008)
Molecular vision! New York University and Tel Aviv University researchers have developed a non-invasive imaging method that can be used to diagnose and monitor a number of diseases, including osteoarthritis and intervertebral disc degeneration (in their early stages).
Corin Reports 28% Sales Jump for 2007
By Robin Young (posted February 14, 2008)
Corin Group PLC, the Britain-based orthopedic implant manufacturer, reported that sales for the year ended December 31, 2007, are expected to have risen a strong 28% to £36.5 million (about U.S. $71.2 million).
Wright Adds PROFEMUR® Stem Designs and Less-Invasive Surgical Technique
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted February 8, 2008)
If there were an ortho-catwalk, Wright Medical would be shaking its hips. New from Wright in ’08 is a cemented modular neck hip implant (the company’s first), a wedged stem for revision hip replacement, as well as a new technique for total hip arthroplasty.
ACL Reconstruction and the Double-Bundle Bungle?
By Scott Ellison (posted February 5, 2008)
Is there truly a benefit to the double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) procedure? Or is the procedure in fact a bungle, inadequate in comparison to the standard ACL? Analyzing thousands of procedures in the PearlDiver database, we answer the question.
Entelos and UCB Pharma Sign Agreement on Rheumatoid Arthritis
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted January 24, 2008)
How “virtual patients” will make real change a possibility. Life sciences company Entelos, Inc. has announced that it has signed an agreement with UCB Pharma S.A. to conduct in silico research in the field of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using the Entelos® Rheumatoid Arthritis PhysioLab® platform.
Orthopedic Decisions Start Here. 
