Smith & Nephew launches Fast-Fix Flex Meniscal Repair System
Smith & Nephew announced the launch of its Fast-Fix Flex Meniscal Repair System in the United States and select countries, according to a press release.
“Fast-Fix Flex is a patient and surgeon friendly device that simplifies the all-inside approach,” Jeffrey M. Klauser, MD, orthopedic surgeon and physician at Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists, said in the press release. “The ability to personalize the degree of curvature to the patient’s tear pattern eliminates the need to change portals or utilize multiple techniques while preserving meniscal tissue during repair.”
The Fast-Fix Flex is intended to improve access to the meniscus, decrease the risk of neurovascular injury and make surgery more efficient due to the bending ability of the product. Unlike other Fast-Fix products, Fast-Fix Flex was designed to make bending the needle and shaft possible during surgery.
According to the press release, Fast-Fix Flex offers a 25% reduction in needle insertion areas and a 20% stronger repair than the Fast-Fix 360 System released by Smith & Nephew in 2013.
Smith & Nephew expects the product to reduce the amount of meniscus removals performed globally by making repair more accessible to surgeons.
“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,” Christie Van Geffen, vice president global marketing, joint repair at Smith & Nephew, said. “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 meniscal repair.”