With the increasing popularity of vertebroplasty, a minimally invasive procedure for treating vertebral compression fractures, reports of multiple patient deaths are beginning to surface. While not related to the products from companies developing delivery systems and/or new materials for vertebroplasty, such as Kyphon Inc. , Orthovita Inc. , and American OsteoMedix Corp. (AOM), which in May merged with spinal implant maker Interpore Cross International Inc.[See Deal], the issue is one they must squarely face as they develop clinical data to support their products.
For years, surgeons ignored compression fractures, a particular problem in osteoporotic women, because intervention in those patients was risky, and surgeons didn't have a good tool. "Screws didn't work because...