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Two surgeons
in New Jersey and California over the last eight weeks have
performed several minimally invasive knee replacement procedures
using techniques that researchers hope may ultimately make
knee-replacement a much less daunting operation for patients.
Dr. Alfred
J. Tria, Jr., Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at
the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey and Dr.
Thomas M. Coon, inventor and orthopedic surgeon at Shasta
Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Red Bluff, California,
performed the procedures using Zimmer's NexGen® Legacy
® LPS-Flex Knee.
"Zimmer
believes that the patient benefits of minimally invasive joint
replacement are so compelling that we have placed significant
company resources behind developing instruments, implants
and procedures that will enable orthopedic surgeons to bring
these benefits to their patients," said Ray Elliott,
CEO of Zimmer.
Zimmer
hopes to complete an evaluation of 100 surgeries during 2002
and 2003. The company will initially focus its efforts on
instruments and techniques that can be used with existing
knee replacement implants, but will eventually develop specific
implants that take advantage of the minimally invasive procedure.
"Today's
new patient is seeking orthopedic treatments that help relieve
their arthritis pain, restore their lost function and allow
a recovery of lifestyle," said Elliott.
Source:
Medical Week staff,
week of April 14, 2002
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