Virtually Pain-Free Orthopedic Surgery with PainBuster
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Posted by Marnie Ackerman on April 07, 1999 at 16:52:03:
Virtually Pain-Free Orthopedic Surgery Made Available
Through New PainBuster? Technology
SAN DIEGO, CA -- Orthopedic patients can now have virtually pain-free surgery thanks to PainBuster?,
a new pain management system recently cleared by the Food and Drug Administration. PainBuster
provides continuous infusion of a non-narcotic, local anesthetic
directly into the wound site for up to 72 hours after surgery, according to Les Cross, President of Smith
& Nephew, Inc. Bracing and Support Systems, the distributor of PainBuster.
"This application for PainBuster is truly a breakthrough in orthopedic and sports medicine
specialities," said Cross. "Athletes, physically active individuals or anyone prone to bodily
injuries will surely recognize the benefits of virtually pain-free orthopedic reconstruction. This
system will tremendously enhance patient comfort and rehabilitation."
PainBuster is the first product of its kind to be cleared by the FDA for orthopedic applications.
PainBuster infuses local anesthetics such as Bupivacaine, a non-narcotic drug, directly and
continuously into the wound site. The use of non-narcotics eliminates negative side effects typically
involved with narcotic pain relievers, such as sedation, nausea, vomiting and respiratory depression, that
can interfere with the patient's recovery.
"I know of many surgeons who have expressed excitement over using the PainBuster system," said Dr.
Lonnie Paulos, an orthopedic surgeon for 20 years. "By diminishing postoperative pain, especially without
the use of narcotics, patients are able to return to their normal activities much sooner."
There are approximately 3.5 million orthopedic surgeries in the U.S. each year, of which about
1.4 million involve significant post-operative pain. In addition to providing non-narcotic pain relief, the
PainBuster system offers profound advantages over existing treatments. Its continuous flow into the
surgical site decreases the incidence of breakthrough pain that is sometimes experienced with the
intermittent administration of intravenous injections or oral pain relievers. Insurers are expected to
embrace this technology because of its potential to reduce hospital stays and rehabilitation times to enable
patients to return to their normal activities faster, thus decreasing the total cost of the procedure. In
addition, the complete system is portable, disposable and cost-effective.
Smith & Nephew, Inc. Bracing and Support Systems is the recognized leader in the development, design
and manufacturing of a wide range of orthopedic support products. Formerly known as the DonJoy
Division, its current corporate identity became effective this year in conjunction with the unification of its
product lines, DonJoy and ProCare. To receive more information on DonJoy's PainBuster, please call
(800) 336-6569. Media requests for additional information, interview opportunities or a copy of the
PainBuster video news release (VNR) should be directed to Donovan Roche at (619) 234-0345.
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