SAN DIEGO, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- dj Orthopedics, Inc. (NYSE: DJO), a designer, manufacturer and marketer of products and services for the orthopedic sports medicine market, today announced that it will introduce its newest knee ligament brace, the DonJoy Fource Point™ at the orthopedic industry's largest and most prestigious venue, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) in New Orleans, LA, February 5-7, 2003. The Company will also introduce the new DonJoy Tru-Pull™ Sleeve for patellofemoral dysfunction (PFD).
"Innovation has been a cornerstone of our success and Fource Point technology takes ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) bracing to the next level," said Les Cross, president and chief executive officer of dj Orthopedics. "Our patented Four-Points-of-Leverage design, regarded as the gold standard among orthopedic surgeons, provides unrivaled knee ligament protection.
We are quite pleased to incorporate Fource Point technology into our DonJoy line to enhance the effectiveness of the Four-Points-of-Leverage system, providing superior protection and comfort for patients."
The Fource Point brace is designed for patients who have undergone ACL reconstructive surgery, who have ACL deficiencies or for the prevention of knee injuries. In the United States alone, it is estimated that more than 175,000 ACL reconstructive surgeries are performed annually at a cost of approximately two billion dollars. Over the past decade, ACL injuries have risen due to the public's participation in sports.
The patented Fource Point hinges are designed to react during leg extension and offer an increasing resistance to the last 35 degrees of extension, in order to reduce extension shock, increase posterior tibial loads and keep patients out of "at risk" positions. The hinge has three adjustment settings to vary the amount of resistance needed to meet the specifications of physician protocols and patient comfort. The brace is offered in standard or short lengths.
The Tru-Pull Sleeve is designed to relieve pain associated with patellofemoral dysfunction by utilizing a patented system of independent, wraparound straps that provide a consistent pull to stabilize the patella, or kneecap. PFD describes a number of painful conditions related to the patella, including partial dislocation, abnormal alignment, patellar tendonitis and osteoarthritis. PFD is one of the most common knee-related visits to orthopedic surgeons' offices. Approximately 2.5 million people are treated for pain related to PFD each year, most commonly females 11 to 20 years of age. It is estimated that 25 percent of the population suffers from PFD. The Tru-Pull patent is the invention of noted orthopedic surgeon, Dr. John P. Fulkerson. dj Orthopedics has licensed exclusive rights to the patent.
Representatives from dj Orthopedics sales and technical staffs will be available for media interviews at Booth 3541 during the AAOS meeting, February 5-7, at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. Additionally, Dr. John P. Fulkerson will be on-site at the Company's booth at 10:00 am on Friday, February 7, 2003 for a product demonstration and interviews with the media.
About dj Orthopedics
dj Orthopedics is a global orthopedic sports medicine company specializing in the design, manufacture and marketing of products and services that repair, regenerate and rehabilitate soft tissue and bone, help protect against injury and treat osteoarthritis of the knee. Its broad range of over 600 existing products, many of which are based on proprietary technologies, includes rigid knee braces, soft goods, specialty and other complementary orthopedic products. These products provide solutions for patients and orthopedic sports medicine professionals throughout the patient's continuum of care. SOURCE dj Orthopedics, Inc.
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Company Investor/Media Contact:
DJO Incorporated
Mark Francois
Director of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations
760-734-4766
