Zimmer Marks First Implant of Periprosthetic Plating System

Zimmer Holdings Inc. has performed the first implantation of a plating system designed to fix complex femoral fractures that often occur around a hip or knee implant.

Zimmer claims its NCB (Non-Contact Bridging) Periprosthetic Plating System is the first set of plates and screws that specifically addresses the issues of difficult fixation and poor bone quality surgeons face when addressing periprosthetic fractures (those that occur around joint replacements). Surgeries for hip or knee replacement patients who break their femurs can be particularly demanding and complex, company officials noted.

“With the demand for joint replacements rising, it has become increasingly important to provide surgeons with an effective and reliable solution for the potentially difficult fractures which can occur around a hip or knee prosthesis,” said Curt Jennewine, vice president of marketing for Zimmer Trauma. “The NCB Periprosthetic Plating System offers robust options to surgeons who treat periprosthetic fractures by providing the ability to achieve bicortical fixation through a wide plate design, Zimmer’s NCB polyaxial screw technology and compatibility with the Cable-Ready Cable Grip System.”

The NCB Periprosthetic Plating System features a wider plate design in the region near a patient’s hip or knee implant, which allows for a more stable fixation around the prosthesis, according to the Warsaw, Ind.-based orthopedic implant manufacturer. A narrow design around the rest of the plant minimizes soft tissue disruption. The company claims the plating system achieves “unique stability” from a combination of plate design, polyaxial screw placement and a fixed angle construct. Bicortical screws can be placed within a 30-degree polyaxial cone and secured at any time intraoperatively using locking caps. This locking construct provides a high level of angular stability, which can be advantageous when working around an implant or osteopenic bone.

In cases where the bicortical screw fixation is not possible due to poor bone stock or other factors, the NCB Periprosthetic Plating System is compatible with the cables and cable buttons of the Zimmer Cable-Ready System. For added flexibility, locking screws and cable can be combined. Blunt tip NCB screws also are available to create a system that offers a comprehensive solution for periprosthetic fractures.

Zimmer’s NCB plating system is scheduled to be released this fall.