Groundbreaking Surgeon to Perform New Hip Procedure Via Live Webcast October 9
New Procedure Designed To Help Patients Get Back On Their Feet Sooner

In a live Internet web cast on October 9, 2007, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Joel M. Matta, M.D., will perform a tissue sparing surgical procedure called the Anterior Approach to total hip replacement with a specially designed surgical table and the Corail® Hip implant from DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. at the Hip & Pelvic Institute at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., a company that has taken a leading role in training surgeons in this procedure, is making the broadcast available for free via www.OR-Live.com.

The Anterior Approach is a proven technique for total hip replacement that can help people who have suffered for decades from painful osteoarthritis in their hip. The Anterior Approach makes small-incision surgery an option for patients who were traditionally not candidates because of weight or build. The procedure allows for immediate post-operative stability, less pain and a faster patient recovery.1-3

The surgery will be performed by Dr. Joel M. Matta, who brought the Anterior Approach to the United States from Europe. Dr. Matta has advanced the technique further by co-designing a specialized surgical table, a hip prosthesis and surgical instruments, as well as improving protocols for the hip replacement procedure. Having performed over 1,500 Anterior Approach hip replacements himself, Dr. Matta has also been instrumental in the training of many orthopaedic surgeons in this technique.

“Using the Anterior Approach allows surgeons to work between the muscles, without detaching them from the hip or thighbones,” said Dr. Matta. “When these important muscles are left relatively undisturbed, patients can expect to be on their feet much faster, making quicker steps toward recovery.”

Traditional Hip Replacement Vs. the Anterior Approach
Traditional hip replacement surgery typically results in a 6-8 inch incision and a hospital stay of 4-5 days. The Anterior Approach allows for a smaller incision and less tissue disruption, which can shorten the recovery process. Additionally, patients may bend their hip and bear full weight sooner after this surgery than other types of hip replacement surgery.

How Does the Anterior Approach Work?
The surgeon uses an advanced surgical table specifically designed for this procedure:

This surgical table allows them to position the patient so that the hip joint may be easily accessed from the front as opposed to the side or back. The Anterior Approach allows the surgeon to work between the muscles without detaching them from the hip or thighbones with many advantages.

• These important muscles are left relatively undisturbed, potentially reducing the recovery time.
• Keeping these muscles intact also helps prevent dislocations;
• Patients may be able to freely bend their hip and bear full weight immediately following surgery

The Corail Total Hip System, from DePuy, is a clinically proven hip implant uniquely shaped and optimal for the anterior approach due to its streamlined design.4