Centerpulse Orthopedics Announces Launch of Minimally Invasive Instruments For Hip Replacement

AUSTIN, Texas -- Centerpulse Orthopedics Inc., a subsidiary of Centerpulse, today announced the availability of new instrumentation that enables orthopedic surgeons to perform total hip replacements through a single incision ranging from 2 to 4 inches. Centerpulse developed this comprehensive set of patented instrumentation under its CARE MIS program in collaboration with Lawrence D. Dorr, MD, to address the specific challenges associated with implanting hip replacements through smaller incisions.

The instruments were designed to remove much of the complexity involved with performing minimally invasive hip replacement. The specialized instrumentation allows easy mobility of the wound, protects the delicate soft tissue structures surrounding the hip joint, and facilitates predictable and reproducible placement of the implants in the correct position.

The decision to make the instruments available to other surgeons follows the release of positive clinical results based on a series of more than 100 hip replacements that Dorr and his team performed through a posterior mini-incision approach at Centinela Hospital in Los Angeles. Dorr will present his findings on February 8, 2003 at the Hip Society Meeting during the 70th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons in New Orleans.

The new procedure also passed a thorough evaluation in several other orthopedic hospitals in the U.S. to test for user-friendliness and to determine surgeon education requirements. The multi-center evaluation confirms that a surgical team proficient with the new mini-incision approach can achieve reproducible results and proper component positioning without an increase in the complication rate.

"Patients with posterior mini-incisions of 2 to 4 inches showed improved and faster recovery during the first 10 weeks following surgery compared to patients with traditional surgical incisions of 10 to 20 inches," said Dorr, medical director of The Arthritis Institute in Inglewood, Calif. "We're confident that with proper training and specialized instruments, other surgeons can achieve the same positive results. We have used the new technique for almost all hip replacements done at Centinela Hospital. Over 80 percent of our hip patients received an incision of less then 4 inches. However, if the patient's anatomy does not allow, we do not hesitate to extend the incision to achieve the necessary exposure of the hip and correct placement of the components."

The posterior mini-incision approach allows surgeons to convert a mini-incision to a more conventional incision at any time of the surgery if deemed necessary.

To train surgeons on the new mini-hip technique, Centerpulse has developed a comprehensive educational program offered through the Center for Orthopedic Innovation. The training program includes hands-on workshops in Centerpulse's Bioskills Learning Lab in Austin, Texas, as well as live-surgery events and official visitation sites across the United States.

"We believe less invasive hip and knee replacement will become the standard of care within the next few years, and is, in part, being driven by patients," said David Floyd, president of Centerpulse Orthopedics. "It's important for surgical instrumentation to be well designed and for the technique to be thoroughly tested and perfected before releasing new instruments for wide use."

Surgeons interested in receiving training on the minimally invasive posterior hip instrumentation should contact Centerpulse Orthopedics' Center for Orthopedic Innovation at (800) 888-4676, extension 281.

The minimally invasive hip replacement instruments are the third phase of minimally invasive concepts developed under the CARE MIS program. Centerpulse Orthopedics introduced the minimally invasive Natural-Knee Unicompartmental System Instrumentation and the UniSpacer Knee System in 2002.

Centerpulse Orthopedics Inc. designs and manufactures medical devices for orthopedic markets worldwide at its Austin, Texas headquarters. The company, in conjunction with Centerpulse Orthopedics Ltd. in Switzerland, is one of the largest suppliers of orthopedic implants in the world and comprises the Orthopedics Division of Centerpulse, a global network of medical device companies. Centerpulse Orthopedics is a subsidiary of Centerpulse.

Source: Centerpulse Orthopedics Inc.

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