ODT’s Most-Read Stories This Week—Nov. 18

Research-related news topped ODT website visitors’ interests this past week.

Medtronic led the charge by releasing 12-month study results showing its DTM spinal cord stimulation (SCS) programming offers significant, long-term pain relief compared to conventional SCS therapy for chronic back pain patients with degenerative disc disease (DDD), herniated disc (HD), or radicular pain syndrome (RPS) who aren’t candidates for spine surgery. In the modified intention to treat analysis set (mITT) at 12 months, 91% of patients using DTM SCS programming reported at least 50% back pain reduction compared to 25% of patients treated with conventional SCS. Also at 12 months, 91% of patients using DTM SCS programming reported at least 50% leg pain reduction compared to 35% of patients treated with conventional SCS.
 
The findings of a newly released study demonstrating the effectiveness of virtual reality in orthopedic trauma training drove significant website traffic as well. The study examined the impact of Osso VR’s immersive and interactive platform on surgical training. The analysis found that virtual reality training outperformed traditional training methods when learning and executing the steps of the procedure. Participants who underwent VR training exhibited a higher level of procedural proficiency.

TherageniX and the University of Nottingham garnered pageviews as well with their research news—their awarding of a £995,000 grant from Innovate U.K. to develop the company’s gene therapy for bone graft augmentation in a powder. TherageniX will initially focus on orthopaedic applications, with the aim of improving patient outcomes in bone grafting procedures.

Paragon 28 managed to entice cybervisitors to the site with non-research news; It launched BEAST cortical fibers, an osteoinductive porous structure for cellular attachment and an osteoinductive potential to assist in cellular differentiation and bone attachment. The loose, cortical fibers were designed to complement surgical applications in the foot and ankle. They’re also flexible upon hydration, allowing for application in extremely challenging fusion locations.

1. Medtronic’s DTM SCS Shown to Outperform Conventional Stimulation for Pain Relief

2. Paragon 28 Rolls Out BEAST Cortical Fibers

3. New Study Demonstrates the Effectiveness of VR in Orthopedic Trauma Training

4. TherageniX, U.K. University Developing Bone Regeneration Therapy

5. Novel Materials, Novel Devices Call for Considered Approach to Sterilization Decisions