Smith+Nephew launches FAST-FIX FLEX Meniscal Repair System

Extends all-inside repair possibilities with greater access across all zones of the meniscus

Smith+Nephew, the global medical technology business, announced the launch of its FAST-FIX FLEX Meniscal Repair System, the only device to offer a surgeon-guided, bendable needle and shaft providing access to all zones of the meniscus. Improving access leads to a greater opportunity to repair the meniscus rather than remove it, resulting in long-term benefits to the patient.

Smith+Nephew’s new FAST-FIX FLEX system uses an all-inside approach that may eliminate the need for further incisions, reduce the risk of neurovascular injury, and provide procedural efficiency to support faster operating times. The added ability to bend both the needle and shaft enables surgeons access to the mid-body and anterior zones, inaccessible by previous FAST-FIX devices. These meniscal zones account for more than 40 per cent of tears in stable adult knees or roughly 400,000 procedures, (meniscal repairs and meniscectomies) per year in the US alone.

Dr Jeffrey Klauser, Connecticut Orthopaedics commented, “FAST-FIX FLEX is a patient and surgeon friendly device that simplifies the all-inside approach. The ability to personalise the degree of curvature to the patient’s tear pattern eliminates the need to change portals or utilise multiple techniques while preserving meniscal tissue during the repair.”

With one of the smallest needles in the all-inside device category and smooth, low-profile anchors, FAST-FIX FLEX offers a 25 per cent reduction in needle insertion area as well as a repair that is more than 20 per cent stronger than the previous generation FAST-FIX 360 System.

“FAST-FIX FLEX will revolutionise the all-inside meniscal repair device segment,” said Dr Jorge Chahla, Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, Chicago IL. “Delivering characteristics of FAST-FIX 360, the gold standard in meniscal repair, FLEX adds new features enabling surgeons to address previously inaccessible tears through the quick and reproducible all-inside approach; while improving upon the tried and true technique.”

Meniscal tears continue to be one of the most common orthopaedic injuries. To treat this injury, most patients receive a partial meniscectomy or complete removal of the meniscus shown to significantly increase the risk of osteoarthritis and the rate of total knee replacement. Alternatively, meniscal repair has been shown to slow the progression of osteoarthritis which may facilitate a quicker return to normal knee function post-injury.

“The launch of FAST-FIX FLEX represents a new milestone in meniscal repair, and we are truly delighted to provide this technology to surgeons across the globe,” commented Christie Van Geffen, Vice President Global Marketing, Joint Repair, Smith+Nephew. “Its addition to our All Tears, All Repairs Meniscal Repair Solutions portfolio will accelerate our goal to change the standard of care away from meniscectomy and toward the meniscal repair.”