DePuy Synthes Debuts Chest Wall Fixation Solution

DePuy Synthes, part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech,* today launched the MatrixSTERNUM Fixation System, a plate and screw solution for stabilizing and securing the front part of the chest wall after procedures like open heart and chest surgery.^5,6 The system provides stronger locking strength, faster chest fixation, and thinner, low-profile plates as compared to competitive offerings.^{1-4 ,II,III,IV,V,VI,VIII}
 
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery is the most common type of heart procedure in the United States (about 20,000 people undergo the surgery annually).⁷ Recent research indicates that using rigid plates for chest fixation can help lower complications for patients who are at high risk, improve survival rates both during and after surgery and shorten hospital stays.⁸
 
“We are committed to developing products that not only meet but exceed the specific needs of heart surgery patients and healthcare providers,” said Oray Boston,** worldwide president, DePuy Synthes Trauma, Extremities, Craniomaxillofacial, Animal Health and Sports. “The MatrixSTERNUM Fixation System is a new advancement for post-operative chest stabilization, with stronger, faster and thinner solutions that streamline the procedure and offer surgeons greater flexibility to meet patient needs.”  
 
The MatrixSTERNUM Fixation System delivers three times greater locking strength compared to the market leading product,^1,II,III improving sternum fixation during post-surgical healing. Its multi-hole screw guides allow for a more rapid and precise plate fixation process, significantly reducing procedure time.^2,3,II,III,V Additionally, the system features 1.5 mm low-profile plates, which are both thin and highly contourable, making the plates less noticeable under the skin.^i,VI
 
“After trialing the system, I am quite impressed with how easy it is to use, its intentional and versatile design, and the high quality of the instruments for attaching the plates. I’ve yet to find another system that allows me to fully plate the sternum in under three minutes,” said Dr. Tyrone Galbreath, D.O., a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon at UT Health East Texas.^I “The MatrixSTERNUM Fixation System makes it simple to secure the sternal plates, and I am excited to starting using the system when it launches.”
 
The MatrixSTERNUM Fixation System is available nationwide.

DePuy Synthes provides a comprehensive orthopaedics portfolio that helps heal and restore movement for millions of patients. DePuy Synthes solutions, in specialties including joint reconstruction, trauma, extremities, craniomaxillofacial, spinal surgery and sports medicine, in addition to the VELYS Digital Surgery portfolio, are designed to advance patient care while delivering clinical and economic value to healthcare systems worldwide. 
 
Johnson & Johnson MedTech has driven scientific innovation for more than a century in surgery, orthopaedics, vision, and interventional solutions.  
 
*DePuy Synthes represents the products and services of DePuy Synthes, Inc.
** Oray Boston is an employee of Medical Device Business Services, Inc.
^I Dr. Tyrone Galbreath is a paid consultant for DePuy Synthes. 

References 
^II Pre-clinical test data/results may not necessarily be indicative of human clinical performance (or outcomes).
^III Determined by 7 of 7 surgeons, who evaluated MatrixSTERNUM™ Fixation System in the lab.
^IV  Cantilever Bending testing showed that the MatrixRIB™ and MatrixSTERNUM™ Self-Drilling Locking Screws have a higher screw-plate locking strength (203 +/- 2.53 vs. 54.1 +/- 1.45N) vs. the Zimmer Biomet Self-Drilling Locking Screws. Locking screws and plate holes between the relevant plates are identical in MatrixSTERNUM™ Fixation System and MatrixRIB™ System as demonstrated in Engineering Rationale (Windchill#501986434).
^V Seven surgeons and two physican assistants took part in a Time Study, with a total of 17 simulations for the Zimmer Biomet SternaLock® Blu plate and screws construct and 25 simulations for the MatrixSTERNUM™ Fixation System plate and screws construct. Average time to perform fixation steps for MatrixSTERNUM™ Fixation System was 42 ±10 s, and was 76 ±19 s for Zimmer Biomet SternaLock® Blu. Results suggested a reduction of 43% (±15%) to perform fixation steps when using MatrixSTERNUM™ Fixation System with the 8-hole Screw Guides.
^VI With the exception of Star Plate, which is 1.6 mm thick, MatrixSTERNUM™ Fixation System 1.5 mm plates are thinner than the Zimmer Biomet SternaLock Blu Plates, the KLS Martin Sternal Plating System Plates, and the Stryker SternalPlate System Plates, which ranged from 1.6 – 2.0 mm.
^VII Determined by 7 of 7 surgeons, who evaluated MatrixSTERNUM™ Fixation System in the lab.
^VIII Compared to Zimmer Biomet SternaLock Blu, Zimmer Biomet SternaLock EZ and Stryker SternalPlate System, who offer a range of 5 – 12 plates in their portfolio, MatrixSTERNUM™ Fixation System offers 15 plates.