Smith & Nephew Endoscopy Launches the FOOTPRINT PK Suture Anchor for Shoulder Repair

ANDOVER, Mass., April 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smith & Nephew's Endoscopy Division today announced the launch of the FOOTPRINT PK Suture Anchor, a system used to attach rotator cuff tissue to bone in the shoulder. The anchor is among products featured at the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA) Spring Meeting, which began today in Washington, D.C.

The objective during rotator cuff repair is to return the soft tissue to its original anatomic attachment site. Unlike early single row suture anchor techniques, which employed single-point re-attachment, the "footprint repair" approach uses multiple anchors in two rows, often with suture bridges that provide greater tissue-to-bone attachment (see attached).

Early approaches to cuff repair included transosseous tunnel repairs, which are still done today in some medical practices. During this procedure, the surgeon drills bone tunnels through the humeral head and laces suture through them. Smith & Nephew Endoscopy's FOOTPRINT PK Suture Anchor delivers a Transosseous Equivalent (TOE) repair without the need for drilling transosseous bone tunnels.

Its two-piece design allows for the shell of the anchor to be tapped into place. Then, independent of implantation, an inner plug is advanced, which secures the sutures running from the other anchor rows.

"The FOOTPRINT PK Suture Anchor enables surgeons to precisely apply the desired amount of suture tension that is necessary to maximize the construct strength on a case-by-case basis," said Dr. Nikhil Verma, an orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. "The suture tension can be adjusted even after the anchor is implanted."

The anchor design enables the surgeon to adjust the tension of the suture bridges, so the final fixation is set exactly as the surgeon wishes. Unlike anchors where the tension is set before anchor implantation, the surgeon knows exactly how much tension is present upon completion.

"In designing the FOOTPRINT PK Suture Anchor, our engineers listened to the concerns of surgeons who want to preserve healthy tissue, achieve optimal fixation and help their patients resume the activities they enjoy," said Mike Frazzette, President of Smith & Nephew Endoscopy. "We are pleased to showcase this device during the AANA Meeting, where we are able to demonstrate the technology to so many of our surgeon customers."

Contact: Joe Metzger Vice President, Corporate Communications Smith & Nephew Endoscopy (978) 749-1330 joe.metzger@smith-nephew.com About Us

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specialising in Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Orthopaedic Trauma and Clinical Therapies, Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management products. Smith & Nephew is a global leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the leading global orthopaedics companies.

Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives. The Company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with high standards of performance, innovation and trust. The Company operates in 32 countries around the world. Annual sales in 2007 were nearly $3.4 billion.

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