inserted at a 90-degree angle and cannot lock into place. This means
that the tip of the screw could move slightly after insertion. To make
it sturdier, some manufacturers place threads on the head of the
screw to lock it into the plate, reducing this unwanted motion. The
Variable Angle Locking Hand System lets the surgeon insert the screw
into the plate at any angle up to 15 degrees offset and have it lock into
place, providing more options during surgery. The surgeon can now
fine-tune the operation to the patient's anatomy, since he's no longer
required to position plates and screws strictly perpendicular to the
bone.
The system also includes instrumentation designed to make the sur-
gical team's lives easier. The forceps used to hold the bone and plate
in place now feature an access hole, so docs can continue to position
the plate and actually drill through the forceps to fixate it.
Additionally, the different screws and instruments are color-coordinat-
ed, so a surgeon can simply say to his tech that he needs the blue
screw and corresponding instrument, instead of requesting specific
sizes that can be easy to mix-up with these tiny instruments.
Zimmer Biomet
Oxford Partial Knee Microplasty Instrumentation
With total knee replacements booming in popularity for outpatient
facilities right now, it's easy to overlook the partial knee replacement,
though it's often an easier procedure and has a quicker recovery time
for patients.
Zimmer Biomet's Oxford Partial Knee system features a unique uni-
compartmental implant that's been a longtime favorite of docs. The
implant has an ultra-low wear rate and is very forgiving to insert, so
the surgeon can be off a few degrees and still have great outcomes.
However, the procedure has historically relied on surgeons to freely
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