BONESUPPORT AB Returns From Medical Mission To Rwanda

LUND, Sweden, May 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- BONESUPPORT, an emerging leader in injectable bone substitutes for orthopedic trauma, bone infections and instrument augmentation related to orthopedic surgery, announced the return from a humanitarian medical mission to the University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB) in Rwanda.  The purpose of the mission was to bring CERAMENT™|G, the first CE-marked injectable antibiotic eluting ceramic bone graft substitute, to aid in the treatment of osteomyelitis, a chronic and debilitating bone infection widespread in Rwanda.

The University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB) is the only referral site for osteomyelitis in its catchment area of 3 million people, from the South and Western regions where the majority of people are rural and very poor.  The hospital is also home to nearly 200 medical students and treats an average of 10 osteomyelitis cases each month.  Osteomyelitis cases seen in Rwanda are more severe than what is found in developed countries due to the extreme poverty level and years of medical neglect for many patients.

During the mission, BONESUPPORT's CEO Lloyd Diamond, and Co-Founder, Professor Fredrik Lindberg provided hands-on training of CERAMENT™|G to the doctors, nurses and medical students of CHUB.  They also observed several surgeries in which CERAMENT™|G was used in the management of osteomyelitis.

"We have been so impressed with the medical staff of CHUB and with the knowledge and efficiency with which they operate despite a lack of resources," said Lloyd Diamond, CEO of BONESUPPORT.  "We are proud to aid in the treatment of osteomyelitis in Rwanda and we look forward to a long and successful partnership."

The mission trip came about when Dr. Nicholas, an Orthopedic Surgeon on staff at CHUB, learned that CERAMENT™|G had received CE-Mark. Dr. Nicholas came to Rwanda in May 2012 for a six week United Nations mission, but after seeing the severe need for orthopedic support, has remained at the hospital and recently joined as a permanent staff member. 

"There is a high level of skill and knowledge here at the University Teaching Hospital of Butare, but our resources are scarce," said Dr. Nicholas, "We rely heavily on outside support to help the people of Rwanda continue to recover from the devastating genocide that occurred nearly 20 years ago and we are thankful to BONESUPPORT for responding."  Dr. Nicholas added, "Initial results with CERAMENT™|G are quite promising and we have plans in place to follow up and report on longer term outcomes."

"We are very grateful to BONESUPPORT for the ability to utilize CERAMENT™|G as part of the treatment regimen for osteomyelitis," added Director General, Dr. Andre Musemakweri.   "Because this mission was so successful, discussions are underway to explore how we can continue to access CERAMENT™|G and share our success with the global medical community."

The company has set up a blog to document and share photographs, videos and stories of this medical mission at: http://www.bonesupport.com/blog/.

About BONESUPPORT
BONESUPPORT is an emerging leader of injectable bone graft substitutes for orthopedic trauma focusing on bone infection, instrument augmentation and spinal applications. CERAMENT™ is an injectable, synthetic bone substitute that mimics the properties of cancellous bone, allows for controlled resorption to support future bone ingrowth and is injectable under local anesthesia for minimally invasive surgery. CERAMENT's unique biologic properties deliver a consistent, pre-packed and ready-to-use formulation to facilitate optimal delivery. CERAMENT™|G is the first CE-marked injectable antibiotic eluting ceramic bone graft substitute.  CERAMENT™|G is indicated to promote and protect bone healing in the management of osteomyelitis, (bone infections) in CE marked countries.  CERAMENT™|G is not available in the United States.

CERAMENT™ is a fully developed product platform that is commercially available in the U.S. and Europe and is revolutionizing the treatment of fragility and other fractures caused by disease and trauma. Scientific research of CERAMENT spans more than eleven years. Over forty-five pre-clinical, clinical and animal studies have been conducted and more than 4,000 patients have been treated with CERAMENT.  The company was founded in 1999 and is based in Lund, Sweden with subsidiary locations in the US and Germany. To learn more about BONESUPPORT please visit www.bonesupport.com.

Press Inquiries:
Offer Nonhoff
Chief Financial Officer
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Phone +46 46 286 53 60

SOURCE BONESUPPORT