Popular Anatomic Technique for ACL Reconstruction Takes Big Step Forward Thanks to New, Shorter ENDOBUTTON™ Continuous Loop Fixation Device

LONDON, Oct. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Smith & Nephew (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN), the global medical technology business, announces an exciting new product designed for the growing number of surgeons who use the anatomic technique for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair. As the company's shortest ever continuous loop suture, the new ENDOBUTTON™ CL 10 mm fixation device addresses the challenges associated with the shorter femoral tunnels used in this method. While the 10 mm CL fixation device can accommodate the needs of the anatomic technique, it is also appropriate for use with other techniques for arthroscopic "keyhole" repair of the knee, including the traditional transtibial approach.  

"As an ACL surgeon, my primary goal is to restore my patients' anatomy as closely as possible to normal," explains Dr. David C. Flanigan, Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Ohio State University. "Using an anatomic approach allows me to do that. And with this new 10 mm device, I know I will get incredibly strong fixation while optimizing the amount of soft tissue graft in even the shortest of tunnels."

The ENDOBUTTON CL Ultra family is pre-threaded with the company's proprietary continuous loop of suture, making it one of the strongest soft tissue femoral fixation devices on the market today.[1],[2] In addition to adding strength, this type of continuous loop won't stretch like other suture constructs can. In fact, in lab testing the ENDOBUTTON CL Ultra Device showed 90% less displacement than a leading competitor when both were placed under load.[3]

Supported by more than 10 years of clinical experience and more than 20 peer-reviewed journals, the entire ENDOBUTTON family features Smith and Nephew's unique "flipping" characteristic that provides surgeons with tactile feedback to ensure proper seating.

"Smith and Nephew was the first company to provide surgeons with a complete range of products and techniques specifically designed to simplify anatomic ACL reconstruction," says Romeo Catracchia, Vice President, Joint Repair for Smith & Nephew. "Our ENDOBUTTON family of fixation devices, along with our new ACUFEX™ PINPOINT Anatomic ACL Guide System, CLANCY™ Anatomic Cruciate Guide, FAST-FIX™ 360 Meniscal Repair System and BIOSURE™ Interference Screws present surgeons with complete options for performing a wide variety of  anatomic ACL reconstructions."

As one of the primary support structures for the knee, the ACL is made up of functional fibre bundles that prevent excessive left/right, front/back and rotational movement of the joint. While traditional transtibial ACL repair is able to replicate some of the ligament functions, the anatomic technique attempts to more closely reproduce the overall function of the knee. For this reason, many surgeons feel that the anatomic technique is superior and may help to reduce further injury and degeneration of the patient's knee.  According to industry estimates, approximately 1 million ACL procedures are performed globally each year.

About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business dedicated to helping improve people's lives.  With leadership positions in Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Advanced Wound Management, Sports Medicine and Trauma, Smith & Nephew has almost 11,000 employees and a presence in more than 90 countries. Annual sales in 2011 were nearly $4.3 billion.  Smith & Nephew is a member of the FTSE100 (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN).

Forward-looking Statements
This document may contain forward-looking statements that may or may not prove accurate. For example, statements regarding expected revenue growth and trading margins, market trends and our product pipeline are forward-looking statements. Phrases such as "aim", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "well-placed", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "consider" and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is expressed or implied by the statements. For Smith & Nephew, these factors include: economic and financial conditions in the markets we serve, especially those affecting health care providers, payors and customers; price levels for established and innovative medical devices; developments in medical technology; regulatory approvals, reimbursement decisions or other government actions; product defects or recalls; litigation relating to patent or other claims; legal compliance risks and related investigative, remedial or enforcement actions; strategic actions, including acquisitions and dispositions, our success in integrating acquired businesses, and disruption that may result from changes we make in our business plans or organisation to adapt to market developments; and numerous other matters that affect us or our markets, including those of a political, economic, business or competitive nature. Please refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith & Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20-F, for a discussion of certain of these factors.

Any forward-looking statement is based on information available to Smith & Nephew as of the date of the statement. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew are qualified by this caution. Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in circumstances or in Smith & Nephew's expectations.

Trademark of Smith & Nephew.  Registered US Patent and Trademark Office.

[1] Data on file at Smith & Nephew, ITR # 3422
[2] C. Conner, B. Perez, R. Morris, J. Buckner, W. Buford and F. Ivey. "Three Femoral Fixation Devices for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Comparison of Fixation on the Lateral Cortex Versus the Anterior Cortex," Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery - June 2010 (Vol. 26, Issue 6, Pages 796-807, DOI: 10.1016/j.arthro.2009.10.015)
[3] Data on file at Smith & Nephew, ITR 15001530

SOURCE Smith & Nephew

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED