Wright Medical Group launches ORTHOLOC Polyaxial Locked Plating System

Sep 10 2009

Wright Medical Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: WMGI), a global orthopaedic medical device company, today announced the launch of the ORTHOLOC™ Polyaxial Locked Plating System for surgical treatment of foot and ankle fractures.

Designed by leading foot and ankle surgeons, the ORTHOLOC™ system is a comprehensive and advanced solution for treating common bone fractures of the foot and ankle. The ORTHOLOC™ system consists of three instrument and plating trays, each designed to help the surgeon stabilize and fixate bone injuries of either the forefoot, calcaneus, or ankle region. The implants, plates and screws are made of titanium, and all incorporate Wright’s advanced ORTHOLOC™ polyaxial locking technology. “Polyaxial locking” allows the surgeon to tailor the angle of screw placement into the plate for best anatomic fit and then “lock” the screw to the plate. Locked plating delivers the benefit of greater stability of the bone/plate construct over conventional non-locked plates.

“ORTHOLOC™ Polyaxial Locking Technology gives me the ability to place a locking screw where I need it and not where the plate dictates. Ultimately, this technology makes locked plating faster and more adaptable to the indication and specific patient anatomy,” notes Thomas H. Lee, M.D. of the Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Robert B. Anderson, M.D. of OrthoCarolina in Charlotte, North Carolina commented, “The new ORTHOLOC™ System is the first comprehensive polyaxial system, providing me all the implant options and surgical versatility I need in addressing foot and ankle fractures.”

The new ORTHOLOC™ Plating System will be made available in a controlled-release immediately in the U.S. through Wright’s specialized foot and ankle sales force. Full rollout is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2010. Additionally, the system will be marketed in select countries outside the U.S. through Wright’s direct and distributor-based sales representatives.

The ORTHOLOC™ polyaxial plating systems are the latest addition to Wright’s market-leading suite of products for foot and ankle surgeons. These include the CHARLOTTE™ family of reconstructive implants, DARCO® locked plating systems, the BIOARCH® subtalar implant, SIDE-KICK® External Fixators, CANCELLO-PURE® and BIOFOAM™ osteotomy wedge systems, ENDO-FUSE™ intra-osseous implants, DART-FIRE™ small screw systems, GRAFTJACKET® regenerative tissue matrix, and the INBONE™ total ankle replacement.

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