New system helps the repair of hip joint using arthroscopy

Smith & Nephew's Endoscopy Division has announced the launch of the CROSSTRAC Hip Guide System, which enables surgeons to accurately establish pathways to diagnose and repair the hip joint using arthroscopy, or minimally invasive, repair procedures.

The announcement came at the Arthroscopy Association of North America Fall Course, which opened today and runs through Saturday in Phoenix, Ariz.

The hip joint is deep in the body and difficult to access. To arthroscopically diagnose and repair damage to the joint, the surgeon must create surgical pathways, or portals, through the dense tissue surrounding the hip, while avoiding critical structures such as nerves and arteries. Correct placement can be a challenge even for surgeons who have performed many hip arthroscopy procedures. Traditional techniques may require multiple attempts at entering the joint, increasing exposure to fluoroscopic radiation and adding to procedure time.

The CROSSTRAC Hip Guide ensures more reliable, predictable portal placement on the first attempt. Guided by an x-ray, the surgeon establishes the first portal and inserts an arthroscope. With that portal in place, the CROSSTRAC Hip Guide is attached to the arthroscope and enables the surgeon to establish secondary portals in the appropriate place. The arthroscope enables the surgeon to see where the additional portals would penetrate the hip capsule before the penetration occurs.

"Inserting the scope, establishing the portals and locating them in the correct position are critical to the success of a hip arthroscopy procedure," said Dr. J.W. Thomas Byrd, of the Nashville Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center in Tennessee, and a pioneer in hip arthroscopy. "Incorrect portal placement may inadvertently damage the vascular and nerve structures surrounding the hip or result in further trauma to the joint. The CROSSTRAC enables surgeons to achieve proper placement without repeated attempts."

Lisa Donnelly, senior market manager for hip repair at Smith & Nephew Endoscopy said the CROSSTRAC Hip Access System "enables surgeons -- even those new to hip arthroscopy -- to accurately and quickly access the hip joint, and devote more procedure time to diagnosing and repairing hip damage."

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