April 22, 2019
Dear Agents, Reps and Distributors,
We are excited to announce the release of a new study: The Effect of Tourniquet Use and Sterile CO2 Gas Bone Preparation on Cement Penetration in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty, by Meneghini et al, recently released as an “Accepted Manuscript” by the Journal of Arthroplasty (click links to view full study & Abstract).
Why is this study important and How will it help you sell more CarboJet?
Let’s start with the Conclusion:
“Bone prepared with CO2 gas showed significantly more cement penetration in three zones with greater cancellous bone. The results suggest use of CO2 gas bone preparation may achieve greater cement penetration than using a tourniquet with lavage only.”
In other words, not only does this reinforce our existing penetration study findings, but it shows that surgeons can achieve even better cement penetration in tourniquetless TKA than they had been achieving with the tourniquet by simply incorporating CarboJet into their routine. Most surgeons acknowledge the clinical downside to tourniquets, but have been reluctant to take the leap because of their concerns about a compromised cement technique.
Your job is to make sure those surgeons get their hands on this study and a CarboJet evaluation on their schedule ASAP!
Don’t we have studies that show this already?
Yes, there is the Goldstein study, which has been an excellent support piece, but can’t compare in terms of sample size, study design and release platform. This Meneghini study looked at 303 TKAs (the same cohort as his Opioid study), used patient x-rays to measure penetration, and is being published in a well-respected, widely-read peer reviewed journal.
Remind me again why Cement Penetration is Important?
Good question. You may have been told by surgeons that they aren’t concerned with cement penetration, since they “never have any problems with loosening”. Though we know that’s not true (Aseptic loosening is the number one cause of knee revisions), it is hard to sell a solution to a problem that the customer won’t acknowledge. That is where the science behind cement-bone behavior comes into play. Your surgeons may not acknowledge loosening, but they can’t argue that bone resorption occurs. And it’s logical to then state that more cement penetration will minimize the effect of bone-resorption. We’ll be sharing more information on this topic very soon, so stay tuned.
What is an “Accepted Manuscript”? Is this publicly available?
The full Meneghni Cement Penetration study is available to anyone for purchase or with a paid subscription to JOA. It has been “accepted for publication” meaning it will be fully published soon (likely in the next couple of months) with some formatting and copyediting. We will send out a press release when the study is fully published.
We encourage you to share news of the study with your surgeons right away, but please note that – because it isn’t free – the full study manuscript (and likely the final published study) may not be provided to surgeons without reporting the transfer of value per “Sunshine Act” requirements. For now, use the online abstract (available at this link), which includes instructions for obtaining the full study. When the study is fully published, we will be releasing and printing our own abstract of the study for inclusion in our CarboJet Pocket Folder brochure packets.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions. More information can be found at www.kinamedportal.com. And stay tuned for updates to sales support materials and Value Analysis presentations that incorporate this new clinical evidence…You don’t want to miss out on this wave of momentum that is inexorably pushing CarboJet towards becoming the “Standard of Care” in cemented arthroplasty!
Let’s Make it Happen!
Patrick Miller
Sales & Marketing Manager
Kinamed, Inc.
tel: 1-805-384-2748 x 207
fax: 1-805-384-2792