6th October 2010, SOTA Orthopaedics Ltd, a Dublin based medical device company today revealed positive feedback from surgeons to its drill guide device for tension band wiring (O-Jig). The olecranon (elbow bone) drill guide developed by SOTA Orthopaedics was launched directly to surgeons in Ireland and the UK earlier this year.
SOTA Orthopaedics Ltd (www.sotaorthopaedics.ie) develops innovative orthopaedic medical devices to facilitate surgery and improve outcomes for trauma and orthopaedic patients. To-date the O-Jig device has been utilised by approximately thirty surgeons across Ireland and the UK. The primary benefit of the O-Jig is that it takes the guesswork out of pin placement. By accurately guiding the surgeons’ pins, any risk of soft tissue impingement is avoided and therefore dramatically reduces the need for secondary surgery.
Mr. Hannan Mullett, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon specialising in upper limb surgery, in Beaumont Hospital and the Sports Surgery Clinic in Dublin explained the benefits of the O-Jig; “Removal of metal surgery following olecranon fracture surgery is a significant issue both for patients and for surgeons, causing unnecessary additions to crowded theatre lists. Using bio-absorbable pins guided by a specialised jig may significantly reduce the need for follow-up surgery that is currently required in about 50% of cases.”
The O-Jig device is CE certified and has been approved for sale within the United States. Over the next twelve months SOTA Orthopaedics are aiming to increase its customer base of surgeons within Ireland and the UK and have already begun trialling the guide with a small number of surgeons in the US.
Commenting on the O-Jig device, Dr. Brian Thornes, Founder and Chief Executive of SOTA Orthopaedics Ltd said, “Traditionally tension band wiring has been performed freehand. The O-Jig enables the surgeon secure first time accurate pin placement. It is ideally suited for use with bio-absorbable pins that are invisible on x-ray and virtually eliminate the need for additional surgery. At a time when reducing costs are a major priority across the healthcare sector this device has the potential to make a major impact for both surgeons and patients alike.”
Concluding, Dr. Brian Thornes said, “2010 has been a milestone year for SOTA Orthopaedics, apart from the positive market reaction to the O-Jig device we have made significant development strides in our latest device (X-Bolt), which is an expanding bolt device that gives significantly better fixation in osteoporotic hip fractures. We aim to make a number of significant announcements about the X-Bolt device in the first quarter of 2011.”
Please view video descriptions on the O-Jig http://www.o-jig.com/ Please view video descriptions on the X-Bolt http://www.x-bolt.com/
About SOTA Orthopaedics Ltd
Established in 2008, SOTA Orthopaedics Ltd (www.sotaorthopaedics.ie) develops innovative orthopaedic medical devices to facilitate surgery and improve outcomes for trauma and orthopaedic patients.
Company founder and Chief Executive Dr. Brian Thornes previously developed the TightRope Syndesmosis fixation; a surgical technique for ankle injuries primarily associated with sports injuries, which to date has been implanted in over 50,000 cases worldwide. The TightRope is available worldwide via Arthrex http://www.ankletightrope.com/
For further information please contact John McGuinness Murray Consultants 00353 1 498 0361 jmcguinness@murrayconsult.ie
