Arthrex Acquires iBalance Medical for an Undisclosed Amount

Naples-based Arthrex buys Colorado company (link to NaplesNews.com) iBalance, a Boulder CO company, has developed a non-metal implant placed below the cortex in an opening HTO wedge technique.

X-Rays Often Inaccurate in Diagnosis of Hip and Pelvic Fractures

Study: X-rays often inaccurate in diagnosis of hip and pelvic fractures link to OrthoSuperSite Reference: Kirby MW, Spritzer C. Radiographic detection of hip and pelvic fractures in the emergency department. AJR 2010; 194:1054-1060.

Knee Arthritis Has Been Linked to Leg Length Inequality

Unequal leg length tied to osteoarthritis (link to Queen’s University) A new study shows that arthritis in the knee is linked to the common trait of having one leg that is longer than the other. Whether or not leg length differential is a direct cause of osteoarthritis is not clear, but the findings may allow [...]

New Wound Repair Membranes From Snoasis Medical Show Promise in the Dental Market – BioXclude Made of Placenta Tissue

Placenta technology promises healing benefits link to OrthopedicsThisWeek BioXclude™ represents the first membrane composed of amnion and chorion tissue for use as a wound covering in guided bone regeneration procedures

ArthroCare’S Plasma Disc Decompression Beats Epidural Steroid Injections for Treatment of Contained Herniated Discs

Clinical Study Published Regarding Plasma Disc Decompression for the Treatment of Low Back Pain Associated with Contained Herniated Discs published in the April 2010 issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine.

Metal Hip Replacements in Pregnant Women Leach Chromium and Cobalt Into Babies

Metal hip replacements in pregnant women leach chromium and cobalt into babies link to NaturalNews.com

PRP Gaining Favor for Chronic Tennis Elbow, Severe Achilles Tendonitis and Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Spinning Blood Isn’t Just for Athletes link to WSJ Online

Vertebroplasty = Pain Relief and Increased Quality of life… According to a Large Italian Study

Vertebroplasty provides pain relief and better quality of life at long-term follow-up link to OrthoSuperSite.com When other medical treatments failed, patients properly selected for vertebroplasty reported their symptoms improved dramatically after undergoing the procedure. Many of them experienced continued improvements in symptoms through an average 31 months postoperative, according to results of a study conducted [...]

Simulatenous ACL + Meniscus Repair in Children Is Effective

Repair of torn knee meniscus at the time of ACL reconstruction is safe and effective for children by ScienceBlog 84% of children 18 and younger had successful clinical outcomes during an eight year follow-up to repair of a torn meniscus at the same time as a reconstruction of the ACL.

Will Stem Cells in a Polymer Scaffold Ultimately Replace Allograft Bone Grafting for Hips?

Mending Damaged Hips With The Help Of Stem Cells by MedicalNewsToday Bone stem cells could in future be used instead of bone from donors as part of an innovative new hip replacement treatment, according to scientists at the University of Southampton.

New Orthopedic Market Research Available

Orthopedics: Global Industry Guide – a new market research report on companiesandmarkets.com The global orthopedics market grew by 7.2% in 2008 to reach a value of $19.2 billion. In 2013, the global orthopedics market is forecast to have a value of $27.4 billion, an increase of 42.9% since 2008. The spine implants segment generated 30.7% [...]

Boston Med Device Firms Are Optimistic About Future

Survey: Med device firms plan to hire by BizJournals.com 34.9% reported improvement in their business 58% expect improvement within the next 60 days 50% are planning increases in head count in next 60 days

CareFusion Sues Medtronic Over Kyphoplasty Patents – Is This Newcomer Waking a Sleeping Lion?

Medtronic Hit With Antitrust Suit Over Spine Treatments by Law360 Let’s Get Ready to Rumble by OrthoSpineNews.com

OrthAlign Clears Palm-Sized Intraoperative Total Knee Alignment Device

OrthAlign receives KneeAlign™ Market Clearance from US FDA by OrthAlign Aliso Viejo, CA – March 25, 2010 – OrthAlign, Inc., a privately held medical device company in Aliso Viejo, CA, received 510(k) market clearance from the FDA for the latest design of its palm-sized disposable KneeAlign™ computer assisted system for total knee arthroplasty.

Growing Spine Startup – Rhausler, Inc. in San Carlos, CA

Rhausler Announces Record Growth of Nearly 700% for its Spinal Implant Devices by PRWeb

Anulex Raises $3.8M for Spinal-Surgery Device

Anulex raises $3.8M for spinal-surgery device by MedCityNews Fresh off the launch of a next-generation version of its spinal-tissue repair device, Anulex Technologies has raised $3.8 million, according to a regulatory filing. The funding comes in the form of debt and options, and was raised from 11 investors.

FDA Panel Questions the Benefits of ReGen’S Menaflex Meniscus Repair Implant

FDA Panel Questions Knee Device …WSJ Online An FDA panel of outside experts found that there isn’t enough scientific evidence to come to a firm conclusion about the benefits of a knee device approved by the FDA in 2008. The panel’s statement highlights the agency’s dilemma as it weighs whether it has authority to [...]

Biologic Knee Reconstruction Can Buy an Arthritic Patient Up to Ten Years Before Needing a Total Knee Replacement

Biologic Joint Reconstruction Using Stem Cells Proven Successful In Patients With Arthritis …StreetInsider Biologic Joint Reconstruction, rather than bionic (artificial) replacement, may be an appropriate first step for many people with knee joint arthritis, Kevin R. Stone, MD, chairman, the Stone Research Foundation stated at the AAOS. The procedure involves combining articular cartilage repair [...]

Clinical Results of Total Ankle Replacements Lag Behind Hips and Knees – Only 80% Survive 5 Years

Total ankle survivorship rates are low, but improvements are underway, surgeon says …OrthoSpineNews Although total ankle replacement survivorship rates are considerably lower compared to those of hip and knee replacements, a leading foot and ankle surgeon said that the success rates for total ankles will improve. Based on a literature review, Charles L. Saltzman, MD, [...]

CareFusion Now Offers Devices for Both Vertebroplasty and Balloon Kyphoplasty

CareFusion Launches New Device to Help Treat Spinal Fractures …CNNMoney CareFusion is the first company to offer devices for both vertebroplasty and balloon kyphoplasty procedures Kyphoplasty procedures represent a $600 million global health care segment CareFusion (NYSE: CFN), a leading, global medical device company, today announced the launch of the AVAmax® Vertebral Balloon, a minimally [...]

Will the FDA Take Back ReGen Biologics 510(k) Clearance?

The entire orthopedic industry is watching this unprecedented FDA relook? Does the FDA have the authority to take back a 510(k)? If so, on what basis? What impact will this have on your 510(k) cleared products? Read recent publications below… FDA Agenda and Meeting Materials FDA.gov FDA Wrestles With Undoing Decision WSJ (Mar 22) [...]

DePuy Acquires Finsbury for $96M, on Annual Sales of $55M (1.75 X Multiple for a Joint Replacement Company)

DePuy Acquires Finsbury Of U.K. For Estimated $96 Million by TopDeviceCompanies.com Products “DePuy adds Finsbury Portfolio” OrthopedicsThisWeek… http://ow.ly/MLRk “DePuy gains several key products, including the DeltaMotion® Ceramic-on-Ceramic Hip System, the ADEPT® Metal-on-Metal Hip Resurfacing and Total Hip System, as well as the Medial Rotation Knee™ System, the Dual Bearing Knee™ System, the BOX® Total [...]

DePuy Says Goodbye to the Charite disc… Remembering the 2003 Acquisition That Kicked Off the Spine Bubble

R.I.P. Charité (OrthopedicsThisWeek)

Rotator Cuff Repair Is Effective, but Long-Term Function Is Not Restored

Henry Ford Hospital study: Shoulder function not fully restored after surgery …Eurekalert “Although patient satisfaction is generally very high after surgical repair of a torn rotator cuff, the data suggest that long-term shoulder function – in particular, shoulder strength and dynamic joint stability – may not be fully restored in every patient,” says Michael Bey, [...]

AAOS 2010 – What Were the Hot Topics in New Orleans?

Hot Topics seen by OrthoStreams Surgeons challenge Zimmer’s NexGen Knee (high loosening rate) NYTimes highlights the complication rates of Metal-on-Metal Hips Stryker challenges ALL Mobile-Bearing Knees Medtronic rumored to acquire Biomet PRP efficacy is questioned by AAOS Light surgeon turnout in the Exhibit Hall Big Spine Companies are absent 20% of booths were non-US companies (growing trend) [...]

Spinal Restoration Closes $20M Financing Round

Spinal Restoration closes $20M financing round Medical research firm Spinal Restoration Inc. has completed a $20 million round of financing. Austin-based Spinal Restoration received the funding from four investors, according to a filing today with theU.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company, founded in 2004, develops therapies designed to address unmet needs in spine health [...]

MIS Spine Startup, Non Linear Technologies, Has Raised $8.8M

Spine implant co NLT raises $8.8m Minimally invasive surgery spinal implant developer Non Linear Technologies Ltd. (NLT) has, based in Israel, raised $8.8 million. Moshe (Mori) Arkin and Dr. Uri Geiger’s Accelmed led the round, alongside current investor Peregrine Ventures, which has funded the company since it was at the fund’s Incentive Technological [...]

MTF Buys 51% of Bone Biologics, Inc.

Bone Biologics, Inc. announced today it had received another round of investment for preferred shares from the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (MTF). MTF now owns 51% of Bone Biologics. As part of the financing, MTF also provided a line of credit to fund continuing operations. This financial support continues the investments by MTF that have [...]

15 Years After ACL Knee Reconstruction, 84% of Male Patients Still Highly Active, Study Says

Science Daily 84% of males who had ACL knee (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction with a patellar tendon (the tendon that attaches the knee to the front of the tibia or shin bone) graft continue at a high level of activity 15 years later, according to a study presented March 13 at the American Orthopaedic Society [...]

AAOS: Uncertain Future for Platelet-Rich Plasma

published at MedPage Today… http://ow.ly/1nBpu Clinicians are trying to determine where platelet-rich plasma (PRP) fits into the armamentarium of treatments for orthopedic injuries. PRP is created by taking an individual’s whole blood, putting it into a centrifuge, concentrating the platelets, and injecting the platelet-rich mixture into a site of injury. While normal whole blood has [...]

Surgeons Challenge Zimmer to Pull High Flex NexGen Knees Off Market Because of High Loosening Rates

During AAOS, three surgeons recommended against implanting a Zimmer NexGen cementless knee because of “unacceptably high” rates of loosening and corrective surgery. Among 108 knees operated on and analyzed after two years, 9% had to have revision surgery, and many more had loosening that likely needs surgery, said Richard Berger, a study author and surgeon at [...]

Stryker Challenges the Benefit of ALL Mobile-Bearing Knees – Bets on Its Fixed-Bearing Triathlon Knee

Stryker Press Release… http://ow.ly/1n5gP Comparative study reveals no clinical advantages of mobile bearing knee systems over fixed bearing knee systems “…recent FDA-monitored Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) study found no statistical difference in clinical outcomes between its mobile bearing and traditional fixed bearing knee systems. In contrast, Stryker continues to be very pleased with the [...]

Hand-Held Unit Helps Determine if Vertebrae Are Properly Aligned

Troy Burk has been treating sore backs for 13 years, but he’s not ashamed to say that a machine can sense more than his hands can feel. The Brooklyn chiropractor uses a hand-held device called a ProAdjuster to determine if spinal vertebrae are properly aligned. Burk is the only chiropractor in Jackson County to use [...]

Concerns Over ‘Metal on Metal’ Hip Implants (NYTimes Health)

HealthPointCapital… http://ow.ly/1n5uN The NYT article cites a metal-on-metal revision rate of 1-3%, with women affected more frequently than men. A surgeon at Rush University who was quoted by the Times says he revises metal-on-metal hips at a rate of about “one a month.” The failure rate is largely attributed to surgeon technique, such as [...]

Carticept Medical Gets $20M in Series B Financing

Carticept Medical, Inc., a developer of innovative products for the treatment of cartilage injuries and osteoarthritis, today announced that it has completed a $20 million Series B financing round. New investor SonoSite, Inc. joined existing investors Domain Associates and New Enterprise Associates. The financing will provide funding for the expected commercial launch of the Company’s [...]

AAOS: Research Shows That INFUSE BMP Is Used Mostly Off-Label

The vast majority of spinal procedures involving bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) are off-label uses, researchers found. From 2003 to 2007, the use of BMP more than quadrupled from 23,900 to 103,194 procedures, according to Kevin Ong, PhD, managing engineer at Exponent, an engineering and scientific consulting firm based in Menlo Park, Calif. Although the FDA [...]

Orthopaedic Synergy to Acquire Praxim and Its Surgical Navigation Platform

About Orthopaedic Synergy, Inc. Orthopaedic Synergy, Inc. functions as a holding company for OMNIlife Science, Inc. and Enztec, Ltd. Together these companies represent a global reconstructive orthopaedic concern that is committed to the design, manufacture and distribution of high quality orthopaedic devices. Our corporate strategic objectives include continued growth through strategic acquisition of companies with [...]

Orthofix Focuses – Sells Vascular Business to Covidien, Results in $19M Net Cash

Orthofix International N.V. announced today it has sold the assets of its vascular business, including its AV-Impulse(R) mechanical compression technology, to Covidien. “This transaction represents another important step towards focusing Orthofix on strategic market segments that represent long term growth potential for the Company,” said Orthofix’s CEO Alan Milinazzo. “Additionally, the proceeds from the sale [...]

X-Spine Announces Exclusive License With Gamma Spine for Minimally-Invasive Spinal Technology

Gamma Spine, founded by Dr. Vijay Goel, Ph.D., will participate in the development process with X-spine. “I am thrilled be working with Dr. Goel, who is one of the world’s most renowned and published experts in spinal biomechanics, to develop this unique and valuable technology,” stated Dr. David Kirschman, President and CEO of X-spine. The [...]

The Twin Cities’ Next Medical Device Growth Area Could Be Extremity Joint Replacement, Lead by Tornier, the No. 2 Ankle Manufacturer

PearlDiver projects extremities sales will grow to $1.5 billion by 2012, with Tornier holding the No. 2 market-share spot behind DePuy Orthopaedics. See PealDiver’s projects below. TwinCities.com “A New Twist on Bad Ankles”… http://ow.ly/1fCAA

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February 22, 2012

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