OAD ORTHOPAEDICS OFFERS REVOLUTIONARY NEW TREATMENT FOR LOW BACK PAIN

Biologic protein creates bone growth where needed--eliminates second surgery required in traditional spine fusion procedure; clinical trials data show increased return-to-work statistics.

July 10, 2002, Warrenville, IL - OAD Orthopaedics, Ltd. announced today that it is offering an innovative spine surgery for patients suffering from debilitating low back pain. The procedure uses a new product called INFUSE™ Bone Graft/LT-CAGE™ Lumbar Tapered Fusion Device, which contains a genetically engineered version of a naturally occurring protein capable of initiating bone growth, or bone regeneration, in specific, targeted areas of the spine. For patients who require spinal fusions, the use of this novel biologic in surgery reduces the pain and complications associated with treating degenerative disc disease by eliminating the second surgery required to harvest bone from a patient's hip, as is done in traditional spinal fusion procedures.

Backaches are the most common cause for doctor visits, second only to cold and flu symptoms. The problem is so serious that in 2002, more than 190,000 Americans are expected to undergo lumbar spinal fusion surgeries to ease their debilitating pain and get back on their feet. The INFUSE Bone Graft is indicated to treat certain types of degenerative disc disease, a common cause of low back pain.

Degerative disc disease is a disorder of the spine that can be extremely painful and debilitating in patients who generally lead active lives. The disease occurs when discs in the spine are damaged. Pain emanates from the damaged discs themselves or is caused by the discs or bone impinging on nearby nerve roots or the spinal cord. By the age of 50, approximately 85 percent of the population will show evidence of disc degeneration.

For people with degenerative disc disease, spinal fusion surgery is often the only effective method to treat their condition. Spinal fusions essentially "weld" two or more vertebrae together to eliminate the pain caused by a damaged disc. In traditional spinal fusion procedures, surgeons insert pieces of the patient's own bone between the vertebrae to prompt the body to grow new bone. But this procedure actually requires two surgeries--one to chip off small pieces of bone from around the patient's hip (autograft) and a second to insert them into the spine. Studies have shown that the bone harvesting procedure can be more painful than the fusion itself, and nearly a third of patients experience some hip pain two years following surgery. INFUSE Bone Graft eliminates the painful harvesting surgery because it induces the body to grow its own bone where it is needed.

The clinical trials show promising return-to-work statistics. With a study population of 279 patients, only 37 percent of the people in the study were able to work before the surgery, but 60 percent of the study participants were able to work afterwards. This is good news for employers and employees alike.

INFUSE Bone Graft was recently approved b the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. To use INFUSE Bone Graft, surgeons apply the genetically engineered protein to collagen sponges. The sponges are inserted inside each of two LT-CAGE Lumbar Tapered Fusion Devices, which are then implanted between the vertebrae. The thimble-like cages stabilize the spine while it is fusing and also maintain the proper height between the vertebrae. The tapered design of the cage is intended to help restore the natural curvature (lordosis) between vertebrae in the spine, as compared to traditional cylindrical cages.

For more information about degenerative disc disease, spinal fusions or INFUSE Bone Graft/LT-CAGE Device, please call (630) 225-BONE(2663) or visit www.back.com/graft.

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