New Q-FIX◊ All-Suture Anchor from Smith & Nephew provides surgeons the pull-out strength of a hard implant in half the space

Smith & Nephew (NYSE:SNN;LSE:SN), the global medical technology business, today announced the launch of its Q-FIX All-Suture Anchor. Designed for procedures like rotator cuff repair and labrum repair in which anatomic space is very limited, the new anchor delivers performance characteristics that meet or exceed those of much larger, hard anchors¹.

“The Q-FIX All-Suture Anchor is a great option for hip labral repair,” says J.W. Thomas Byrd, MD of The Nashville Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Nashville, Tenn.. “Its small size allows surgeons to access tight spaces in the hip and the radially expanding anchor provides exceptionally reliable performance.”

Unlike the performance of other all-suture anchors which can vary based on factors such as poor knot deployment or a surgeon’s ability to fully tension the suture by hand, the Q-FIX implant uses a unique, radially expanding implant that fully deploys at the same depth within the bone every time. The Q-FIX anchor also uses an exclusive deployment dial located on the inserter’s handle to automatically tighten the suture to a target of 140 Newtons - three times more than is possible using hand tensioning. Insufficient tensioning can result in micromotion caused by the suture’s natural elasticity, which may reduce anchor performance.  

Indicated for use in the shoulder and hip, the Q-FIX anchor is available in both 1.8mm (single loaded) and 2.8mm (double loaded) sizes with associated disposable and reusable instruments.

“The Q-FIX implant is the next generation in the design of all-suture anchors,” says Scott Schaffner, Vice President, Global Sports Medicine Franchise for Smith & Nephew. “It offers surgeons the benefits and flexibility they love with all-suture anchors, as well as the fixation and pull-out strength they expect from much larger, hard anchors.”

Surgeons attending the annual American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) meeting this week in Las Vegas will be able to learn more about the Q-FIX All-Suture Anchor at the Smith & Nephew booth #5643.

Contacts:   

About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business dedicated to helping healthcare professionals improve people's lives. With leadership positions in Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Advanced Wound Management, Sports Medicine and Trauma & Extremities, Smith & Nephew has around 14,000 employees and a presence in more than 100 countries. Annual sales in 2014 were more than $4.6 billion. Smith & Nephew is a member of the FTSE100 (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN).

For more information about Smith & Nephew, please visit our corporate website www.smith-nephew.com, follow @SmithNephewplc on Twitter or visit SmithNephewplc on Facebook.com

Forward-looking Statements

This document may contain forward-looking statements that may or may not prove accurate. For example, statements regarding expected revenue growth and trading margins, market trends and our product pipeline are forward-looking statements. Phrases such as "aim", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "well-placed", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "consider" and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is expressed or implied by the statements. For Smith & Nephew, these factors include: economic and financial conditions in the markets we serve, especially those affecting health care providers, payers and customers; price levels for established and innovative medical devices; developments in medical technology; regulatory approvals, reimbursement decisions or other government actions; product defects or recalls; litigation relating to patent or other claims; legal compliance risks and related investigative, remedial or enforcement actions; strategic actions, including acquisitions and dispositions, our success in performing due diligence, valuing and integrating acquired businesses; disruption that may result from transactions or other changes we make in our business plans or organisation to adapt to market developments; and numerous other matters that affect us or our markets, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive or reputational nature. Please refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith & Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20-F, for a discussion of certain of these factors. Any forward-looking statement is based on information available to Smith & Nephew as of the date of the statement. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew are qualified by this caution. Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in circumstances or in Smith & Nephew's expectations.

^◊ Trademark of Smith & Nephew. Certain marks registered US Patent and Trademark Office.