Orthopedic Oncologist Hones Bone Website
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted April 9, 2008)
The navigation of education is now easier…orthopedic oncologist James C. Wittig, M.D., the new Chief of Orthopedic Oncology (Pediatric & Adult) and Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center, has redesigned his website to provide more educational and user-friendly resources for the field of orthopedic oncology.

New Fixation Systems for Rotary Cuff and ALC Repair From DePuy Mitek
By Walter Eisner (posted March 24, 2008)
In another sign that the DePuy Orthopaedics franchise was busy at AAOS, DePuy Mitek launched the HEALIX™ PEEK Suture Anchor System for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and the Femoral INTRAFIX™ ACL Fixation System for ACL repair using the anteromedial (AM) approach.

DePuy Orthopaedics Rattles Off New Product Announcements at AAOS
By Walter Eisner (posted March 21, 2008)
DePuy Orthopaedics was busy at AAOS this year, making numerous announcements about new product launches and company initiatives.

Them Travelin' Bones: Some stories are just fun to report.
By Walter Eisner (posted March 14, 2008)
Don't try to sneak bones through the airport in Munich. According to a March 12 AP report, an Italian woman tried to get her brother's skeleton through the Munich airport after arriving on a flight from Brazil.

Watson Will Launch Generic Fosamax®
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted February 8, 2008)
Good news for patients’ bones and wallets. Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced that as of close of business February 6, 2008, when Fosamax® loses its market exclusivity, the company will begin shipping alendronate sodium in the 35 mg and 70 mg once weekly dosage strengths.

FDA Approves Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells as Clotting Solution
By Walter Eisner (posted January 18, 2008)
The FDA has just approved the first clotting solution manufactured using recombinant DNA techniques. The approved indication is to help stop small blood vessels from bleeding after surgery.

Syndicom Launches Online Medical Community for Orthopedic Trauma
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted October 31, 2007)
Syndicom, a provider of problem-solving Web-based tools for medical professionals, medical device manufacturers, and other professional communities, announced the launch of TraumaConnect. A free Web-based service, TraumaConnect is modeled on the Syndicom SpineConnect community, which now boasts more than 900 spine surgeon members.

Data in on Stem Cells for Long Bone Non-Union Fracture Phase I/II Study
By Robin Young (posted October 29, 2007)
At last week’s Orthopedic Trauma Association meeting in Boston, Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. released final results from its Phase I/II stem cell study for long bone non-union fractures. Matthew L. Jimenez, M.D. of the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute is lead investigator.

New Technology for Bone Fracture Screening
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted September 28, 2007)
Here’s a new bone-testing device that offers prediction with conviction. The Canadian company Cooler Solutions, which specializes in health and wellness solutions, has developed a new technology that has the potential to revolutionize bone fracture risk assessment.

Wyeth Presents Fracture Data for Investigational Osteoporosis Therapy
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted September 21, 2007)
“Significantly reduced”: Those are the words you want to hear if you are researching osteoporosis medication. This week, a certain drug manufacturer delivered on that hope.

New Bioreplacable Suture Anchors Introduced by DePuy Mitek
By Walter Eisner (posted September 21, 2007)
A sudden injury or overuse of the shoulder ligament can result in shoulder instability. Athletes and active people who are involved in high-contact or overhead sports are particularly susceptible to such injury. For those patients, DePuy Mitek has announced the launch of LUPINE™ BR and BIOKNOTLESS™ BR, the first suture anchors made from DePuy Mitek’s proprietary Biocryl Rapide biocomposite material.

First Osteoporosis Study in Hip Fracture Finds Reclast® Prevents Additional Fractures and Improves Survival
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted September 20, 2007)
Breaking the hold of hip fractures … Novartis Pharmaceuticals announces the results of the first-ever clinical study in osteoporosis patients who have had a hip fracture. The study shows that a once-yearly infusion of Reclast® (zoledronic acid) injection reduced the risk of subsequent fractures by 35% compared to placebo.

Reclast® Gets FDA Approval for Women With Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted August 23, 2007)
Maybe patients can set a reminder to take it when they pay their taxes ... or on the first day of summer. Their osteoporosis medication, that is. Novartis has announced that the once-yearly medication Reclast® (zoledronic acid), an injectable medication, has been approved by the FDA as the first and only once-yearly medicine for postmenopausal osteoporosis. While oral bisphosphonate therapies have to be taken daily, weekly, or monthly, Reclast is taken once annually.

Study of Low-Dose Fluoride to Fight Osteoporosis
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted August 17, 2007)
According to recent work published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (Vol. 92, No. 7 2446-2452, July 2007), adding low doses of fluoride to estrogen therapy may fight osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. But there are cautions.

Men and the Cost-Effectiveness of Osteoporosis Screening, Treatment
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted August 10, 2007)
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, a study published in its August 8, 2007, edition has found that it may be cost-effective to screen and treat selected older men with osteoporosis, depending on their age and if they have had a prior fracture.

Stryker to Offer Medical-Grade Video
By Walter Eisner (posted August 6, 2007)
Stryker Communications and Rivulet Communications have entered into an agreement whereby the Stryker unit will resell Rivulet's internet protocol (IP) video networking products.

DePuy Offers New Product for Hip Fracture Treatment
By Walter Eisner (posted July 27, 2007)
DePuy Orthopaedics has announced the launch of the Peak FX™ Hip Plate System. The system allows for the use of minimally invasive procedures during surgery for the treatment of nearly 200,000 patients who suffer from intertrochanteric hip fractures in the United States each year, according to the company announcement.

Dong Wha and Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals Pair Up for Osteoporosis Treatment
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted July 5, 2007)
According to PRNewswire, Korean company Dong Wha Pharmaceutical Ind. Co. and Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals Inc. (P&GP) have announced a strategic alliance whereby P&GP will have rights to develop and commercialize a novel class of molecules for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Scient'x Doubles 510(k) Clearance With DUO™ Dynamic Stabilization System
First there was one level...now there are two. Scient'x announced on May 6 that it had received FDA 510(k) clearance to market its new Isobar DUO™ Dynamic Stabilization System.

Alphatec Ponies Up $11 Million Settlement for ‘678 Patent
"Alphatec can now achieve some certainty." That's what Alphatec's President and CEO, Dirk Kuyper, told us at the SAS annual meeting in Miami Beach. He was referring to his company's announcement that its 2006 lawsuit with Biedermann and DePuy over the ‘678 pedicle screw patent is settled.

Abbott Spine’s Universal Clamp™ Now Available Stateside
The Universal Clamp™ spinal fixation system, developed by Abbott Spine, may now be enjoyed by Americans. The implant, which has been available in Europe for over a year, can be used to correct a wide variety of complex spinal pathologies including sagittal and coronal malalignment, as well as degenerative conditions of the thoracolumbar spine.

Facet Solutions, Inc. Completes Combination Facet Joint and Disc Replacement Study
It’s the motion in Miami…Facet Solutions, Inc. is announcing the successful completion of a scientific evaluation for a total joint reconstruction in the lumbar spine. The study evaluated the combination of Facet Solutions’ Anatomic Facet Replacement System (AFRS™) with a semi-constrained disc replacement device in a finite element model.

Biologic Bummer for Stryker in Beantown
Stryker's stock stopped trading for 16 minutes before resuming on Friday, May 2. The reason was because Stryker was about to announce that its Biotech division, in the Boston suburb of Hopkinton, had received a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) related to quality systems and compliance issues.

MAKO’s Robot Zaps 1st Quarter Expectations
MAKO Surgical Corp. reported 2008 first quarter revenues of $500,000. Analysts had expected revenues of only $300,000. The company markets its Tactile Guidance System™ (TGS™), an advanced robotic-arm solution, and its implants for minimally invasive orthopedic knee procedures, known as MAKOplasty®.

Shake Up at Medtronic Sofamor Danek
We were frankly surprised as were many people both inside and outside the company to hear of Pete Wehrly’s sudden departure from Medtronic Sofamor Danek day before yesterday. Mr. Wehrly, 49, was the President of Medtronic Sofamor Danek and the abruptness of his departure followed by Medtronic’s extreme caution in commenting adds additional mystery to the circumstances of Pete’s leaving.

DePuy Puts 3 Million Sq. Ft. to Work in China
DePuy products have gone into production in Suzhou, China. Tradingmarkets.com reported on April 25 that Johnson & Johnson Medical (DePuy-Suzhou) Ltd. has started operations at its first Chinese facility to produce medical equipment in the Suzhou Industrial Park in eastern China.

Smith & Nephew Endoscopy Launches FOOTPRINT PK Suture
Just try to follow in their footsteps! Smith & Nephew's Endoscopy Division has announced the launch of the FOOTPRINT PK Suture Anchor, a system used to attach rotator cuff tissue to bone in the shoulder.

Put on Your Futuristic Headgear: Immersion Medical and GMV Sign Agreement for Reality Arthroscopy Simulation System
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.

Zimmer Revenues On Target for First Quarter. Disappoints Investors
Zimmer reported first quarter 2008 revenues (constant currency) on April 24. Total Revenues: up 6.2% to $1.06 billion. The company also announced a $1.25 billion stock repurchasing program and reaffirmed earlier guidance for the year of 6%–7% revenue growth (in constant currency).

Physician Disciplinary Actions Decline 22% Since 2004
With the current hyper-vigilant focus on surgeon and industry relationships, it begs the question: Are disciplinary actions against physicians increasing or decreasing?

Frost & Sullivan Shines Light on Raymedica
Feelin’ hot, hot, hot! Frost & Sullivan has named Raymedica, LLC, as winner of the 2008 Frost & Sullivan Hot Investment Opportunity Award.

NuVasive Revenues Break Expectations, Lukianov Waives HIPAA
The NuVasive Chairman and CEO waived all his HIPAA rights during a first quarter 2008 conference call with analysts on April 22 when asked about his own back surgery. He said he's doing very well after his two-level XLIF® procedure, thank you very much.

Good News for Lower Extremities: Archus Completes First Human Implant of TFAS-C™ System
They’ve come to a conclusion: Some patients can be done with fusion. The reconstructive implant aficionados at Archus Orthopedics, Inc. have announced the successful completion of the first human implant of their TFAS-C™ system, the newest addition to the company's product line for treating spinal stenosis.

DePuy Launches Spine System for Small-Stature Patients
DePuy Spine has launched a titanium and stainless steel hook, rod and screw system designed to treat complex spinal deformities in small-stature patients.

BoundaryMedical Inc. Launches Orthopedic Outcome Measurement Software
BoundaryMedical, Inc. may be able to streamline things. It has just introduced the new Outcome Enterprise™ Study Manager platform for measuring outcomes relating to orthopedic treatments.

People in the News

Jack Maertens Joins Theken Family of Companies as VP of Marketing

Mike McCarthy Joins Board at Facet Solutions

Patrick O’Donnell Joins Medical Capital Advisors

St. Francis Founder Joins Active Implants’ Board

Upcoming Conferences

SpineWeek
May 26 - 31, 2008 – Geneva, Switzerland

CMSA's 18th Annual Conference & Expo
June 17 - 20, 2008 – Orlando, Florida

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