Wright offers less-expensive alternative to custom femoral implants

Health Industry Today, August, 1995

Wright believes its system will give surgeons maximum operative flexibility in a variety of situations where bone loss of the femur is severe, a situation typical of oncology, revision and blunt trauma cases. The FDA gave clearance to the S.O.S. proximal femoral implant a year ago. It is believed to be the first and only implant of its type to receive FDA's blessing.

By using the S.O.S. system, Wright says, surgeons can adjust resection levels and stem diameters intraoperatively, providing a customized prosthesis cheaper and faster than a traditional custom prosthesis. Savings in the neighborhood of 50% are possible, Wright says, over use of such custom-manufactured products.

Also in June, Wright took a step toward what it sees as the evolution of its next-generation knee prosthesis when the company and the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York agreed on a licensing arrangement for the hospital's "913" total knee. The deal gives Wright access to the hospital's total knee replacement technology through access to its orthopedic surgeons and researchers. Wright views the "913" technique as the fastest growing portion of the total knee replacement market.