BATON ROUGE, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic, a comprehensive orthopaedic clinic treating a wide variety of injuries and illnesses, and Active Implants, a company that develops orthopedic implant solutions, today announced that the first meniscus replacement procedure in the South has been performed by orthopedic surgeons Dr. Larry “Chip” Bankston and Dr. Robert Easton. Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic and its affiliated Surgical Specialty Center of Baton Rouge is the only site in Louisiana – and one of just 10 sites nationwide – enrolling patients with persistent knee pain caused by injured or deteriorating meniscus cartilage in the SUN (Safety Using NUsurface®) clinical trial, which is designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of the NUsurface® Meniscus Implant (pronounced “new surface”) in restoring function similar to that of a natural, healthy meniscus.
The recipient of the implant was Debra Tongue, 46-year-old Baton Rouge resident, mother of three and grandmother of two, who tore her meniscus in May 2015 while running. She underwent a meniscectomy, but constant pain and swelling in her knee have persisted. As a personal fitness trainer and avid sports enthusiast, Tongue went from a very high activity level of biking, hiking and running to any kind of physical activity causing immense knee pain.
“There haven’t been many options for patients like Debra,” said Dr. Bankston. “Though she has experienced persistent knee pain since her meniscus surgery last year, she is too young for knee replacement surgery.”
The meniscus is a tissue pad between the thigh and shin bones. Once it is damaged, the meniscus has a very limited ability to heal. Over 1 million partial meniscectomies (to remove the torn portion of the meniscus) are performed in the U.S. every year, more than the total number of hip and knee replacement surgeries combined. However, many patients still experience persistent knee pain following meniscus partial excision surgery.
“Damage to the meniscus can lead to arthritis and the need for knee replacement surgery,” said Dr. Easton. “We hope the NUsurface Implant alleviates pain for our patients, as well as helps them delay or avoid knee replacement surgery.”
Tongue received the NUsurface Meniscus Implant on June 3 in a short operation during which it was inserted into her knee joint through a small incision. She will now undergo a six-week rehabilitation program, after which time she can begin to resume leisure and sports activities.
“In September of this year, I am traveling to India with girlfriends for a two-week retreat at the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains,” Tongue said. “I am hopeful that the NUsurface Meniscus Implant will give me the ability to hike and explore India without the limitations that I had before the surgery because of persistent knee pain.”
The NUsurface Meniscus Implant has been used in Europe under CE Mark since 2008 and Israel since 2011.
About the Clinical Trial
The SUN study (Safety Using NUsurface®) will enroll approximately 120 patients as part of regulatory process to gain approval from FDA to sell the device in the U.S. All patients who meet study requirements and agree to enter the trial are offered the NUsurface Meniscus Implant as treatment. Treatment with NUsurface in the SUN trial is eligible for coverage by Medicare and some private insurance companies. To be eligible for the study, participants must be between the ages of 30 and 75 and have pain after medial meniscus surgery that was performed at least six months ago. To learn more about the SUN study, please visit http://sun-trial.com or call (844) 680-8951.
About the NUsurface® Meniscus Implant
The NUsurface® Meniscus Implant, from Active Implants LLC, is an investigational treatment for patients with persistent knee pain following medial meniscus surgery. It is made from medical grade plastic and, as a result of its unique materials, composite structure and design, does not require fixation to bone or soft tissues. The NUsurface Meniscus Implant mimics the function of the natural meniscus and redistributes loads transmitted across the knee joint. Clinical trials are underway in the U.S., Europe and Israel to verify the safety and effectiveness of the NUsurface Meniscus Implant.
About Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic
Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic is the largest and most geographically dispersed orthopedic clinic in the region. They treat a full spectrum of orthopedic injuries and illnesses with compassionate care and advanced technologies. Their orthopedic surgeons are fellowship trained and specialize in one or more areas, including hand, elbow, shoulder, spine, knee, hip, foot and ankle, pediatrics, trauma, and sports medicine. Through specialization, the Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic produces outstanding and superior clinical outcomes in a friendly and confidential setting. To learn more, please visit www.brortho.com or call (225) 924-2424.
About Active Implants
Active Implants, LLC develops orthopedic implant solutions that complement the natural biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system, allowing patients to maintain or return to an active lifestyle. Active Implants is privately held with headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee. European offices are in Driebergen, The Netherlands, with R&D facilities in Netanya, Israel. For more information, visit www.activeimplants.com.
CAUTION Investigational device. Limited by United States law to investigational use.
