DePuy Orthopaedics Unveils New Shoulder Surgery Options, Trauma Plating Systems

DePuy Orthopaedics Inc. has unveiled a high mobility cup for reverse shoulder replacement, a hemiarthroplasty system for shoulder resurfacing and anatomic locked plating systems for the elbow and the proximal tibia at the 77th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

The Delta XTEND Reverse Shoulder System adds a new high mobility cup with an advanced cross-linked polyethylene to the system. The market for reverse shoulder replacements, which had almost 2,000 patients in 2004, has grown to an estimated 15,000-plus patients in the past five years, the company said.¹ Reverse shoulder procedures are used to treat end-stage cuff tear arthropathy, a condition marked by extreme shoulder weakness, pain and limited function.

The Delta XTEND High Mobility Humeral Cup with Premieron X-Linked Polyethylene is a semi-constrained shoulder arthroplasty that reverses the normal relationship between the scapular and humeral components. Laboratory testing has shown the new polyethylene developed for this cup reduces wear debris by 85 percent over conventionally manufactured and sterilized polyethylene components, according to the firm.² In addition, the cup has a shallower depth than other cups offered with the system, which may further reduce the risk of scapular neck erosion (notching) while maximizing range of motion for certain patients.

DePuy is expanding its line of bone-preserving Global CAP anatomic prostheses for shoulder resurfacing with the introduction of Global CAP CTA, the company’s first resurfacing prosthesis indicated for cuff tear arthropathy, the firm said. Global CAP CTA has an increased area of superolateral articulation and implant geometry designed to compensate for superior humeral head migration to help restore joint stability and range of motion. The benefit of shoulder resurfacing is that it allows patients to retain more of their natural bone by replacing only the diseased surface of the joint, instead of the entire joint, according to DePuy.

The Elbow Plating System is designed to allow surgeons to effectively address fractures around the elbow, many of which are caused by direct or indirect blows during a fall or motor vehicle accident, the company said.³ The Proximal Tibia System addresses a variety of common proximal tibia (shin bone) fractures, many of which are caused by a fall from considerable height, sports-related trauma or motor vehicle accident.⁴

“Complex challenges with shoulder repair and replacement, as well as the effective treatment of intra-articular fractures, are growing areas of clinical need and interest in the orthopedic community,” said Gordon Van Ummersen, worldwide president of trauma and extremities, DePuy Orthopaedics.

DePuy Orthopaedics, based in Warsaw, Ind., is a provider of orthopedic devices for hip, knee, extremities and trauma, as well as bone cement and operating room products.

References

1. “Reverse Shoulder Replacement Souring in Popularity” July 20, 2009. Pearl Diver Inc. via www.pearldiverinc.com/pdi/htmlviewer.jsp?q=/var/www/html/pearldiver/market/ext/html/Reverse-Shoulder-Replacement-Soaring-Popularity-07-20-09.html&t=Reverse%20Shoulder%20Replacement%20Soaring%20Popularity&c=ext

2. Wirth M, Klotz C, Deffenbaugh D, McNulty D, et al. Cross-Linked Glenoid Prosthesis:A Wear Comparison to Conventional Glenoid Prosthesis with Wear Particulate Analysis. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery; 2009.

3. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00503

4. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons via http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00393&licensee=EXAMPLE