Smith+Nephew meniscal knee repair technology delivers 0% re-operation rate and 100% meniscal healing at six months shows first ever study of horizontal cleavage tears

Smith & Nephew (NYSE:SNN; LSE:SN), the global medical technology business, today announces the results of the first ever prospective clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of repairing Horizontal Cleavage Tears (HCTs), one of the most common meniscal tears affecting approximately one-third of patients with this injury.¹ The STITCH Study is examining the effectiveness of repair using Smith & Nephew’s NOVOSTITCH™ Meniscal Repair System, available only in the US, which addresses complex meniscal tear patterns not adequately served by other repair systems, including HCTs.

STITCH enrolled thirty patients with meniscal tears at eight sites across the US. Three endpoints were examined:

1. Meniscal healing upon second look needle arthroscopy,

2. Freedom from re-operation, and

3. Improvements in knee pain and function as measured by Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) including KOOS, IKDC, Lysholm and Tenger scores.

Six-month results across all three endpoints reported significant improvement in all PROs, including a 0% re-operation rate at six months, and 100% meniscal healing upon second look arthroscopy as measured by no visible defect during in-office, needle endoscopy.

“These initial STITCH results demonstrating successful HCT repair are very promising. This is exciting to see, as many patients are affected by these types of meniscal tears, which have previously been considered irreparable”^1,2 said Dr. David Flanigan, director of the cartilage restoration program at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and co-author of STITCH.

Historically, HCTs were treated conservatively or by partial resection, commonly referred to as a meniscectomy, which may put the patient at risk for adverse changes to the knee joint, leaving them open to osteoarthritis or total knee replacement later in life.^{3, 4} NOVOSTITCH is highly complementary to Smith & Nephew’s leading FAST-FIX^◊ 360 Meniscal Repair System, which addresses vertical tears, the most commonly repaired meniscal injury today.

“There are currently more than 1.2 million meniscal tears treated surgically in the US each year with only 15-20% of the cases receiving a meniscal repair, rather than removal,”⁵ stated Brad Cannon, President of Global Sports Medicine and ENT at Smith & Nephew. “With products like NOVOSTITCH PRO and FAST-FIX 360 we see the opportunity to double this proportion in the medium term.”

The NOVOSTITCH device is designed for access and safety in tight knee joints and offers surgeons the potential to place circumferential compression stitches in locations previously not possible, thereby potentially expanding the meniscal repair option for many patients.²

Study Principal Investigator and internationally recognized orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Peter Kurzweil, Memorial Orthopaedic Surgical Group commented, “The STITCH Study is a ground-breaking endeavor. To date, many orthopaedic surgeons still hold questions regarding the effectiveness of meniscal repair, and this initial data from our study endpoints are vastly encouraging. I’m looking forward to our future results.” The STITCH Study will continue to follow patients for two years post-operation.

The six-month STITCH results were recently presented at the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS), Cancun, MX in May 2019.  

To learn more about the NOVOSTITCH™ PRO please visit: www.AllTearsAllRepairs.com

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About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew is a portfolio medical technology business that exists to restore people’s bodies, and their self-belief. Smith & Nephew has leadership positions in Orthopaedics, Advanced Wound Management and Sports Medicine, more than 16,000 employees and a presence in more than 100 countries. Annual sales in 2018 were $4.9 billion. Smith & Nephew is a member of the FTSE100 (LSE:SN, NYSE:SNN). For more information about Smith & Nephew, please visit our corporate website www.smith-nephew.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook.

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