Smith & Nephew launches two plating systems for foot and ankle surgeons at AOFAS annual meeting in San Diego

LONDON, June 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Foot and ankle surgeons attending this week's American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) annual meeting in San Diego will get their first look at two new plating systems from Smith & Nephew (NYSE: SNN; LSE: SN), the global medical technology business. The much-anticipated systems are the VLP™ FOOT Percutaneous Calcaneus Plating System, which is specifically designed for using a percutaneous approach to treat calcaneus fractures, and the PERI-LOC™ Ankle Fusion Plating System, the only ankle fusion plating system with options for the posterior approach. Each system is part of the company's ALL28™ Foot and Ankle Portfolio – an integrated group of products designed to meet the internal and external fixation needs of foot and ankle surgeons.

"Foot and ankle surgery is a unique and specialized discipline and it requires products that are equally specialized," says Mark Waugh, Vice President for Smith & Nephew's Global Extremities & Limb Restoration Strategic Business Unit. "Through the ALL28 Portfolio, we are able to provide foot and ankle surgeons a complete line of solutions for treating fractures, deformities, arthritis and soft tissue injuries."

Both systems are available to surgeons in North America, Europe and Australia.

VLP FOOT Percutaneous Calcaneus Plating System

A growing number of foot and ankle surgeons have been turning to the percutaneous approach as an effective way to reduce post-operative soft tissue problems when treating calcaneus fractures. However, many of these same surgeons have worked with plates and instruments not specifically designed for this mini-incision approach. Featuring plates with a streamlined profile and tapered edges, The VLP FOOT Percutaneous Calcaneus Plating System provides surgeons with dedicated instruments that assist with plate insertion and fracture reduction. The VLP FOOT Percutaneous Calcaneus System is also the only plating system to offer variable-angle locking technology and feature four different screw options to address differences in bone quality.

"With advances in surgical technique, we have moved from traditional open procedures to biologically friendly percutaneous techniques," explains Steven Steinlauf, M.D. of Hollywood, FL. "With the advent of the VLP FOOT plate specifically designed for percutaneous fixation of calcaneal fractures, we can effectively and efficiently obtain the reproducible results that will provide our patients with an optimal outcome."

PERI-LOC Ankle Fusion Plating System
The PERI-LOC Ankle Fusion System is a complete ankle fusion plating system that includes four anatomic plate designs – allowing surgeons to perform both tibiotalar (TT) and tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) fusions through multiple approaches. Along with the traditional anterior and lateral approaches, the PERI-LOC system is the only system to offer surgeons ankle fusion options for the posterior approach. The posterior approach minimizes soft tissue irritation and preserves the fibula.

In addition to providing surgeons with unmatched flexibility, the PERI-LOC System also offers outstanding stability as the screws thread into the plate, creating a true fixed-angle, locked construct.

"Flexibility and completeness are two of the important attributes that led me to use the Smith & Nephew ankle plating system," says Bret Smith, D.O of Columbia, SC.  "Due to the multiple plate options – anterior, lateral or posterior – I have the ability to choose the best approach and techniques for my patient. This gives me the confidence to select the PERI-LOC ankle fusion system for any patient; from the straight-forward to the most complex."

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 press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, statements regarding planned growth in our business and in our operating margins discussed under "Outlook" are forward-looking statements as are discussions of our product pipeline. These statements, as well as the phrases "aim", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "well-placed", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "consider" and similar expressions, are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors (including, but not limited to, the outcome of litigation and regulatory approvals) that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Smith & Nephew, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. 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 20F, for a discussion of certain of these factors.

All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Smith & Nephew as of the date hereof. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew or any person acting on behalf of Smith & Nephew are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing. Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Smith & Nephew's expectation with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

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