MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smith & Nephew’s Orthopaedic Reconstruction division announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the BIRMINGHAM HIP(TM) Resurfacing system for use in the United States. The BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing system is the only FDA-approved hip resurfacing system available for use in the U.S.
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Hip resurfacing is an alternative to total hip replacement for patients suffering from abnormalities of the hip, including osteoarthritis.
The BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing system conserves more of a patient’s bone than a traditional hip replacement, enabling younger, more active patients to undergo hip replacement surgery while preserving all future surgery options, including a primary hip replacement. The design of The BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing system also offers patients a better range of natural motion with a reduced risk of dislocation.
Developed by Surgeons Derek McMinn and Ronan Treacy, BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing system was first introduced in July 1997 in the UK and has now been implanted in more than 60,000 patients in 26 countries.
“The BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing system offers younger, more active patients a stable implant that enables them to regain and maintain their active lifestyle after surgery,” said Scott Flora, president of Smith & Nephew Orthopaedic Reconstruction. “The long-term clinical data available demonstrates the benefits of the BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing system, which is the premier hip resurfacing technology in the world and a significant addition to our reconstructive product portfolio in the United States. The addition of BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing system as the only FDA-approved hip resurfacing technology gives Smith & Nephew the broadest and most comprehensive product range of advanced bearing surfaces for the hip.”
Smith & Nephew will be training 50 surgeons in the first phase of the U.S. introduction. Training will be provided in the United States and Europe, with the first U.S. surgeries expected to take place this summer.
For more information on the BIRMINGHAM HIP Resurfacing system, visit www.birminghamhipresurfacing.com.
About us
Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specialising in Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Orthopaedic Trauma & Clinical Therapies, Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management products. Smith & Nephew is a global leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the fastest growing global orthopaedics companies.
Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people’s lives. The company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with high standards of performance, innovation and trust. The company has over 8,500 employees and operates in 33 countries around the world generating annual sales of $2.6 billion in 2005.
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