DePuy Synthes recently launched its 2.7mm Variable Angle Locking Compression Plate Clavicle System (VA LCP®). The new system will offer surgeons more of a variety of collarbone shapes and sizes for their patients.
New Clavicle System Offers More Flexibility for Surgeons
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The Variable Angle Locking Compression Plate Clavicle System is designed for the treatment of lateral, shaft and medial fractures for small, medium and large clavicles. The plate shapes take into consideration the interrelationship between patient stature and clavicle size and is able to accommodate different clavicle shapes and sizes.
DePuy Synthes, the orthopedics company of Johnson & Johnson, also said the new system offers thinner plates, improved plate-to-bone fit, and reduced prominence.
The prominence of the plates which can cause irritation is one of the most common reasons for hardware removal after surgery.
“The next generation VA clavicle plate system was designed as a result of collaborative and integrated morphological and epidemiological research by the AO Research Institute, the AO Technical Commission, and the DePuy Synthes Upper Extremity Research & Development team,” Simon Lambert, an orthopedic surgeon and chairman of the AO Technical Commission Upper Extremity Global Expert Committee who helped develop the system, said
“This system provides an optimized sequence of lengths with novel shape and form; matching the spectrum of adult clavicle dimensions, with better plate fit, optimized fixation of fractures in all adult patient groups, and a potentially reduced need for implant removal due to plate prominence.”
To develop the 2.7mm VA LCP Clavicle System, researchers examined over 600 clavicle CT scans from a broad-based patient population. They also analyzed 15 different parameters on each bone to determine the accurate correlation between the patient’s height and clavicle shape. The extensive data allowed them to design a system that better fits a wider range of patients, even those with smaller statures.
“There is a tremendous need for treatment options that can accommodate the anatomic variability of the clavicle in patients who experience these types of fractures,” said I.V. Hall, Worldwide President, Trauma, Extremities, CMF and Animal Health, DePuy Synthes.
“We are incredibly proud to offer this new system as part of our comprehensive Extremities portfolio.”
You can learn more about the VA LCP Clavicle System which is launching globally this year, by clicking here.
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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