ANDOVER, Mass., - Smith & Nephew's (NYSE:SNN; LSE: SN) Endoscopy division has announced that an independent, evidence-based study by a team of surgeons and doctors from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery from Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, Calif., showed that detectable levels of proteins and nucleic acids were present in reprocessed single-use only arthroscopic shaver blades.

The study, published in Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, Vol. 22, No 10 (October), 2006: pp: 1046-1052, also reported that all reprocessed arthroscopic shaver blades examined showed some level of damage or wear with two cases demonstrating at least 76%-100% damage.

Arthroscopic shaver blades are specialized medical devices used by surgeons during arthroscopic surgery otherwise known as getting "scoped" in the knee, shoulder, hip and small joints to remove damaged soft tissue.


In many medical facilities aroundMthe U.S., single-use only medical devices already used in surgery, such as Smith & Nephew's arthroscopic shaver blades, are being sent to third-party groups for reprocessing, where they are reportedly cleaned and sterilized, then sent back to the medical facility for use in additional patients' surgeries.

"Millions of Americans undergoing surgery each year may not be aware that the medical devices used in their surgery have been used before, despite the fact that they were developed to be used only once," commented Jerry Goodman, Senior Vice President, Smith & Nephew Endoscopy.

"Hospitals and surgery centers who use reprocessed single-use only devices justify this as a way of reducing healthcare costs. From a business perspective, that might make sense. But the practice may also compromise patient safety and diminish patient trust in the healthcare system."

The study concluded that of 27 reprocessed single-use only shaver blades examined, 13, or 48%, had detectable levels of protein and 17, or 63%, had detectable levels of nucleic acid. New arthroscopic shaver blades did not display contaminants. Additionally, 20 of the reprocessed shaver blades had been manufactured with teeth that could be evaluated for visual damage. Of this group, 10 reprocessed shaver blades exhibited 1%-25% damage, 5 exhibited 26%-50% damage, 3 exhibited 51%-76% damage, and 2 shaver blades exhibited 76% to 100% damage. Finally, when reprocessed shaver blades were used to cut meniscal tissue, rougher edges appeared on the soft tissue, as opposed to the smooth edges produced with new shaver blades.

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