ODT’s Most-Read Stories H1

It’s been a year of extremes—so far.

ODT’s digital guests gravitated toward extremity-related news and features in the first six months of 2024, according to website analytics data. The top choice was Stryker Corp.’s June announcement of its deal to acquire Artelon, a privately-held company specializing in soft tissue fixation products for foot/ankle and sports medicine procedures. The Sandy Springs, Ga.-based firm produces differentiated synthetic technology to enhance biological and mechanical ligament and tendon reconstruction. Stryker executives said the acquisition improves the company’s competitive position in the foot/ankle and sports medicine segment with a biomaterial technology that supports soft tissue healing. 

Runner-up to the Stryker-Artelon union was the FDA’s warning in January of possible risks related to Exactech’s Equinoxe shoulder system devices that were packaged in defective bags. The agency said the defective bags were missing an oxygen barrier layer that protects the shoulder replacement implant from oxidation, which can degrade polyethylene over time. Oxidation can lead to faster device wear or failure, as well as component cracking or fracture, each possibly leading to further surgeries to replace or correct the Equinoxe implant.

Two magazine features spotlighting the extremities sector scored significant pageviews as well: the January/February issue’s in-depth look at the shoulder market was the fourth-highest traffic driver, while the March/April issue’s examination of the overall extremities sector ranked fifth.

An exception to cybervisitors’ extremities-related fixation was April’s conviction of New Jersey doctor Adarsh Gupta on federal healthcare fraud and false statements charges. The Sewell medical professional swindled $5.4 million from Medicare through a fraudulent orthotic equipment scheme, a federal jury decided. Court documents say Gupta signed thousands of prescriptions for orthotic braces for more than 2,900 Medicare beneficiaries who did not need the devices; he faces a maximum 10-year prison term for each of the three healthcare fraud counts and a five-year sentence for each of the two false statements counts when he is sentenced Oct. 8. 
 

1. Stryker to Acquire Artelon, a Soft Tissue Fixation Company

2. FDA Warns of Possible Equinoxe Shoulder Implant Wear and Tear

3. New Jersey Doctor Convicted of $54 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

4. Looking Over the Shoulder Replacement Market

5. Extreme Fixes for Orthopedic Extremity Surgery