Zimmer highlights use of new lumbar plate system

Zimmer, the orthopaedic medical device manufacturer, has revealed that its new anterior lumbar plate system, Trinica, has been used for the first time in complete cases before the full release of the product in the US and Europe later this year.

The company claims it is the first such system to allow vertebral body variation using multiple plate configurations with fixed and variable-angle screws – a flexibility apparently unseen in competing products.

Additionally, the plate system employs what Zimmer terms as an “All-Through-One Guide”, which can accommodate tapping, drilling, insertion of the screws, while allowing the protection of soft tissue through “consistent reproducible screw placement”.

Ray Elliot, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Zimmer Holdings, stated: “Because this system provides for the use of both fixed-angle and variable-angle screws, surgeons have the opportunity to adjust the construct intraoperatively in order to best match the patient’s anatomy.”

He added that his company is “committed” to developing new products for spinal matters onto the “growing market”.

Last week, Zimmer announced its quarterly financial results, showing an eight per cent increase in net sales.

Mr Elliot said the company was pleased to exceed the forecast earnings guidance, although sales were not as strong as expected.