Arthrosurface Stemless Shoulder Arthroplasty Hits 10 Year Mark

FRANKLIN, Mass., Nov. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Arthrosurface Incorporated (www.arthrosurface.com), a developer of less-invasive joint restoration and resurfacing systems, performed its first US stemless shoulder resurfacing in 2003. The Company continued to expand the technology and introduced the stemless total shoulder system in 2011 using the world's first aspherical humeral implant combined with an off-axis inlay glenoid. Other Orthopaedic companies have only recently started to explore stemless total shoulder designs. However, these designs still require removal of the humeral head and implantation of spherically shaped implants that are not anatomic by design.

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Steve Ek, CEO commented; "We realized 10 years ago that the traditional stemmed shoulder arthroplasty presented unnecessary technical challenges to surgeons while attempting to accurately restore the humeral head position in space. In addition, we pioneered the concept of aspherical geometries to restore humeral head anatomy. The combination of a stemless design and the aspherical head geometries is what makes the Arthrosurface shoulder uniquely anatomical and is a cornerstone of our intellectual property in the shoulder portfolio."

Several years ago, Arthrosurface took its innovation to the other side of the shoulder joint and introduced the first humeral head preserving inlay glenoid. "To maintain bone stock during shoulder arthroplasty, it is necessary to preserve the head and restore the glenoid surface to its normal height. By using an inlay glenoid and a special off-axis preparation system, Arthrosurface is the first company in the world that has designed a stemless total shoulder that can be performed without resection of the humeral head," said Dr. Matthias Schurhoff, VP of Clinical Affairs.

Combining the three innovations of stemless design, aspherical head geometry and inlay glenoid implantation are unique in the industry.  Simply eliminating the stem only addresses one part of the equation and therefore does not provide an anatomic shoulder restoration. 

"For over two years, I have used HemiCAP® shoulder resurfacing combined with the inlay glenoid as an alternative to stemmed total shoulder arthroplasty. In my experience, no procedure has been as rewarding for both the patient and the surgeon," says Dr. John Uribe, Chairman, Dept. of Orthopedic Surgery, FIU School of Medicine, Head Team Physician, Miami Dolphins and Florida Panthers.

Arthrosurface reports that it is the only company to offer a full range of shoulder resurfacing implants that match both the size of the defect and the anatomical curves of the patient's humeral head providing individual solutions from focal to total shoulder arthroplasty.

­About Arthrosurface

Arthrosurface Incorporated is an emerging leader in the design and distribution of orthopedic devices for joint preservation, restoration and resurfacing. The Company's proprietary HemiCAP® system is a unique, less invasive technology that can be used to treat a wide variety of joint conditions caused by trauma, injury and disease. Arthrosurface has developed a broad portfolio of implantable devices and surgical instruments with FDA clearance for the shoulder, knee, toe and hip. Founded in 2002 and based in Franklin, MA, Arthrosurface markets and distributes its products in the United States and more than twenty other countries around the globe. To date, over 50,000 patients have been treated by more than 4,700 surgeons worldwide. For additional information, please visit www.arthrosurface.com.

For inquiries please contact:
Francis J. Fedorowicz, Jr.
Executive Vice President
Arthrosurface Incorporated
Telephone: 508-520-3003
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Arthrosurface Incorporated