Stryker Orthopedics (Mahwah, New Jersey) reported Wednesday at the 2015 American Academy of Orthopedics meetings the regulatory clearance of an advanced robotic-arm assisted total hip arthroplasty application for use with its Mako system. Complementing the surgical approach of choice, the Mako System will be compatible with a surgeon's Stryker implant of choice.

Stryker's Accolade II, Secur-Fit Advanced, Anato, and Exeter femoral implants coupled with the Trident Acetabular System and its precisely engineered X3 polyethylene provide surgeons with the performance of Stryker's implant designs. A recent study found that manual acetabular cup placement fell within the acceptable safe range only 50% of the time. Robotic-arm assisted total hip arthroplasty has been shown to provide excellent accuracy and precision with regard to planned cup position, leg length, and offset.

Additionally, robotic-arm assisted total hip arthroplasty has demonstrated acetabular cup placement four times more consistent to the pre-operative plan than manual cup placement and significantly higher modified Harris Hip Scores and UCLA Activity Level Ratings compared with manual total hip arthroplasty at 1-year follow up.

"Combining the Mako System's proprietary robotic-arm technology with Stryker's market-leading implants allows us to evolve the platform to enhance patient outcomes. This advancement reflects our conviction that this technology will transform joint reconstruction surgery," said Bill Huffnagle, president, reconstructive division.

Stryker is one of the world's leading medical technology companies and together with our customers, we are driven to make healthcare better. The company offers a diverse array of innovative medical technologies, including reconstructive, medical and surgical, and neurotechnology & spine products to help people lead more active and more satisfying lives. Stryker products and services are available in over 100 countries around the world.

In other news from the AAOS conference:

• By employing a customized, more holistic approach to total knee replacement, a new outpatient program from Zimmer Holdings (Warsaw, Indiana) said it is finding success in addressing emerging challenges faced by hospitals, physicians and patients considering the procedure.

The new Z23 Outpatient Knee Program uses a surgical approach, a personalized care plan and at-home recovery for select patients – backed by an extensive training program – to enable surgeons to provide total knee replacement using the Zimmer Persona Knee System in an outpatient setting. The program focuses on several key factors, including the establishment of quality team members to promote outstanding patient experiences; systematic and predictable patient selection; the alignment of objectives across all members of the healthcare team; and strict adherence to and fulfillment of discharge plan objectives.

Prior to offering the Z23 Program, participating surgeons and staff undergo an intensive training regiment covering all aspects of the program, including patient selection and preparation, operating procedures and immediate post-op care, discharge management and remote patient monitoring, and in-person and virtual physical therapy.

• Stryker's Spine and Trauma & Extremities Divisions (Allendale, New Jersey) will be launching BIO4, the next generation viable bone matrix at AAOS 2015 .

From the creators of the original allograft cellular bone matrix, Osiris Therapeutics (Columbia, Maryland), comes the next generation, BIO4, a viable bone matrix containing endogenous bone forming cells including mesenchymal stem cells, osteoprogenitor cells, osteoblasts, osteoinductive and angiogenic growth factors. BIO4 possesses all four characteristics involved in bone repair and regeneration: osteoconductive, osteoinductive, osteogenic and angiogenic. It is a safe alternative to bone autograft that minimizes the potential for harvest site co-morbidities.

"BIO4 is a new therapeutic alternative to autograft for Foot and Ankle surgery, which avoids secondary surgical sites necessary to harvest autograft tissue," said Tom Popeck, VP/GM, Stryker Foot and Ankle. "Unlike many other alternatives to autograft, BIO4 possesses the four characteristics that are important for bone regeneration in a wide range of procedures. We are excited to enter into this new opportunity."

Osiris Therapeutics makes regenerative medicine products that improve health and lives of patients and lower overall healthcare costs.