News from AAOS: Exactech Adds to Shoulder Offering

Exactech Inc., reported the successful surgeries using the company’s new Equinoxe resurfacing humeral head, which expands the firms Equinoxe shoulder line.

“The Resurfacing Head broadens the Equinoxe shoulder line and gives surgeons the ability to address the continuum of care for shoulder arthroplasty – from early intervention to the most complex revisions. Having a complete shoulder system also creates contractual advantages with hospital systems,” said Darin Johnson, vice president of marketing for the company’s Extremities and Hips businesses.

Exactech designed the resurfacing humeral head in collaboration with surgeon consultants including Pierre-Henri Flurin, M.D.;Curtis Noel, M.D., Felix “Buddy” Savoie, M.D.; Ryan Simovitch, M.D.; Thomas W. Wright, M.D.; and Joseph D. Zuckerman, M.D.

The system includes low-profile instrumentation designed to facilitate seamless transitions between surgical steps. The anatomic sizing of the device is designed to prevent overstuffing of the joint and aid in restoring the patient’s own unique humeral head anatomy, according to the company.

“This case was smooth and surgeon friendly. We all agreed that it was important to design an implant that would easily adapt to most any anatomy, including difficult deformities, and it accomplished that goal today,” said Noel, after completing the first surgery. “We designed a system of humeral heads to minimize the amount of humeral reaming and added initial biologic fixation while being ever mindful to keep it revision friendly.”

Because each patient has unique pathology and anatomy, precision is critical when resurfacing the shoulder, according to Simovitch.

“This is why we developed a system that allows all steps—from bone preparation to prosthetic implantation—to be performed over a single threaded guidewire, thus minimizing the risk of malpositioning,”he said, noting that the device will “transform” how he treats challenging deformities and younger arthritic patients

“I implanted the prosthesis through the rotator interval without ever violating the integrity of the subscapularis, and it was a quick, efficient procedure,” said Savoie. “The modular design and low-profile instrumentation facilitated implantation through a cuff-preserving approach, leaving the subscapularis essentially intact. Having a new surgical option to treat younger arthritic patients with a less invasive approach may lead to speedier recovery and quicker rehab for more active patients.”

Exactech will be at this year’s American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting (booth #2261, March 12-14 in New Orleans, La.).

Based in Gainesville, Fla., Exactech develops bone and joint restoration products for hip, knee, shoulder, spine and biologic materials.

Check out some recent ODTbreaking news about Exactech here.