DePuy Synthes, Johnson & Johnson's orthopedic company, announced the launch of the MatrixSTERNUM Fixation System, a plate and screw fixation system to help stabilize and secure the front part of the chest wall after procedures like open-heart surgery and chest surgery. This system is designed to meet patients’ needs in the operating room by providing stronger locking strength, faster chest fixation, and thinner, low-profile plates as compared to competitive offerings.
Every year in the U.S., approximately 200,000 people undergo coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, making it the most common type of heart surgery. As the demand for improved chest fixation techniques increases, there is a clear need for innovations that promote better healing, reduce complications and speed up recovery. Recent research indicates that using rigid plates for chest fixation can help lower complications for patients who are at high risk, improve survival rates both during and after surgery and shorten hospital stays.
“We are committed to developing products that not only meet but exceed the specific needs of heart surgery patients and healthcare providers,” said Oray Boston, Worldwide President, DePuy Synthes Trauma, Extremities, Craniomaxillofacial, Animal Health and Sports. “The MatrixSTERNUM™ Fixation System is a new advancement for post-operative chest stabilization, with stronger, faster and thinner solutions that streamline the procedure and offer surgeons greater flexibility to meet patient needs.”
The company said MatrixSTERNUM Fixation System delivers three times greater locking strength compared to the market leading product, improving fixation of the sternum during the critical healing period after surgery. Its multi-hole screw guides allow for a more rapid and precise plate fixation process, significantly reducing procedure time. Additionally, the system features 1.5 mm low-profile plates, which are both thin and highly contourable, making the plates less noticeable under the skin.
