What You Missed at AAOS

Last week we attended the AAOS Annual Meeting in New Orleans, the year’s premier gathering for orthopedic surgeons and industry, where we saw the latest technology and caught up on clinical and commercial trends. Below is a wrap-up of the most notable updates we encountered on the convention hall floor.

News & Trends

• Robotics were the talk of the conference, with Smith & Nephew highlighting the adaptability of the Navio robotic system and its ability to support their new Journey II bi-cruciate retaining total knee; Zimmer Biomet previewing their ROSA robot for total knee procedures; and Stryker continuing to promote their Mako robotic platform for total knee. Further, J&J recently entered the robotics space with their acquisition of Orthotaxy.
• On the M&A front, Alphatec announced the acquisition of SafeOp, which provides an advanced, automated solution for neuromonitoring.
• Industry leaders are reporting healthy procedure volumes and appetite for innovative technologies, particularly when improved patient outcomes are combined with greater efficiency and value.

Product Launches

• Corin launched the Unity Knee with EquiBalance instrumentation, a total knee system designed to facilitate ligament balancing and soft tissue preservation.
• Corin also debuted the Trinity Dual Mobility System for hip replacement, which the company says features new technology designed to improve range of motion and reduce the risk for post-operative instability and dislocation.
• DePuy Synthes introduced the ATTUNE Revision Knee System, to complement the ATTUNE Primary Knee System, a product line that offers a range of components to address various anatomical and complex surgical needs.
• Medacta announced new products for the knee, shoulder and hip: the MOTO Knee for partial knee arthroplasty, the Medacta Shoulder System, which is the company’s first entry in the shoulder market and the MasterLoc LAT PLUS, a new offset option for its existing total hip product line.
• Smith & Nephew debuted the Journey II Knee, a bi-cruciate retaining total knee arthroplasty device that is compatible with the Navio robotic system.
• Stryker launched the Trident II Acetabular System for use in total hip replacement, which is compatible with their Mako robotic arm.
• Also from Stryker is Pivot Guardian, for use in hip arthroscopy procedures, which the company says is the industry’s first post-free hip distraction system. The company adds that it can help prevent groin-related soft tissue or nerve complications.
• Zimmer Biomet highlighted products from each of its divisions, including nSTRIDE autologous therapy for knee OA (available ex-U.S.), the Synovasure comprehensive diagnostic panel for periprosthetic and native joint infection, their hip preservation portfolio, which is designed to help slow the progression of hip OA, and the Persona product suite for total and partial knee replacement.

Pipeline Previews

• Anika’s presentation included a BioSkills workshop on HyaloFast, their hyaluronic acid-based scaffold for hyaline-like cartilage regeneration. The company also highlighted trial and real-world evidence from their new Cingal viscosupplement, a combination steroid and hyaluronic acid product. Neither product is currently available in the U.S.
• Zimmer featured their nSTRIDE APS Kit, an autologous therapy to treat pain and slow progression associated with cartilage degradation in the knee. nSTRIDE is currently available ex-U.S.

AAOS serves as a preview for what’s to come in orthopedics in 2018 and beyond. We look forward to seeing how these new technologies will continue to shape the musculoskeletal space, and we’ll see you in Las Vegas in 2019.