DEPUY SPINE PLANS TO OFFER MORE COURSES ON MINIMALLY INVASIVE SPINE SURGERY AFTER INITIAL SUCCESS

Raleigh-Durham and Colorado Springs Courses Scheduled for July and August

RAYNHAM, MA, July 15, 2005 – Based on its early success, DePuy Spine, Inc., will expand its courses on minimally invasive spinal access and fixation for the surgical management of spinal instability. 

Six courses have taken place since May in Dallas, Phoenix and Rosemont, Illinois. All were well attended and offered free of charge.  Four courses remain for the summer and take place on July 22 and 23 at Duke University, Durham, NC, and August 26 and 27 at Colorado Springs Center, Colorado Springs, CO.

“These courses provide a comprehensive look at the pros, cons, risks and benefits of minimally invasive procedures and give surgeons hands-on training with the latest instrumentation,” said Greg Anderson, MD, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon at the Rothman Institute and Associate Professor at Thomas Jefferson University both in Philadelphia, PA.

The cadaver-based bioskills course is a one-day lecture and lab format that reviews state-of-the-art techniques including minimally invasive approaches for posterior lumbar decompression, fusion and instrumentation.  The lab features DePuy Spine’s new MIS portfolio including the PIPELINE™ Access System, CONCORDE™ Instruments and VIPER™ Posterior Fixation System.

“The feedback from the initial courses has been excellent,” said Marjorie Eskay-Auerbach, MD, JD - Director of Medical Affairs, DePuy Spine. “Surgeons tell us that there is a real need for quality education in minimally invasive spine surgery and we are committed to providing it.”

Courses provide a comprehensive overview of minimally invasive surgery including its history, anatomical considerations and principles of muscle preservation, the role of osteobiologics, and minimally invasive techniques for decompression and fusion.  The lab provides hands-on training for minimally invasive TLIF and ALIF approaches with percutaneous screw fixation. 

The PIPELINE, CONCORDE and VIPER Systems used in the labs were specifically designed to improve current techniques for minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery.  When used together, these systems provide less invasive access to the spine, controlled placement of an intervertebral disc spacer, and simplified percutaneous pedicle screw fixation. 

Through smaller incisions and the preservation of muscle tissue, minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery has been shown to reduce intraoperative and postoperative measures such as blood loss, patient recovery time, and pain.

More than 400,000 spinal fusion operations are performed each year in the U.S.  Currently, only 8 percent are done using minimally invasive techniques.

Spinal fusion surgery is a common surgical treatment used to join two or more vertebrae in the spine to reduce back pain.

About DePuy Spine

DePuy Spine, a Johnson & Johnson company, has worked and partnered with leading clinicians, researchers, and thought leaders to develop products to treat spine disorders for over 20 years.  Today, DePuy Spine stands in the forefront of the worldwide spine market, with a substantial sales organization in the U.S. and an expanding worldwide distribution network.  The company is committed to advancing the knowledge of all health care professionals and their patients in addressing spinal pathologies.