New Surgical Technique Could Help Save the Hips of Children with Leukemia Suffering From Avascular Necrosis



A new surgical device named the 's8220;Hip ToolTM's8221; by its creator, Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. James K. Brannon, could provide an alternative to radical hip replacement surgery for children with leukemia suffering from a debilitating hip condition called osteonecrosis/avascular necrosis (AVN). The condition may occur as a side effect in patients receiving high doses of corticosteroids in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children. Dr. James K. Brannon is Board Certified in Orthopaedic Surgery, is Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine and Director of the Joint Preservation Center.

The Hip ToolTM is also helping other patients suffering with AVN, including those with HIV who experience the condition as a side effect of antiretroviral medications, and in those who suffer the condition due to a variety of medical conditions and that block the blood flow to the hip joint. The Hip ToolTM device and procedure invented by Dr. Brannon offers many of these patients a chance to save their hip, while also allowing for minimally-invasive surgery with a relatively speedy (and less painful) recovery when compared to more extensive joint preservation surgery at other institutions.

The Hip ToolTM surgery involves removing the dead bone from the affected area inside the hip and replacing it with the patient's8217;s own healthy bone, using the Hip ToolTM device. The healthy bone heals as would a simple fracture in the affected area, offering renewed life to the hip. Dr. Brannon has also developed a similar procedure for the knee, shoulder and the ankle joint.

Dr. Brannon is known for several other innovative products, including the Outologous Trephine-AspiratorTM (OT-ATM), for large volume percutaneous bone marrow harvesting, and the Bone ToolTM for large volume bone and bone marrow collection. His company, Orthopedic Sciences, Inc. (OSI), continues to grow by emphasizing the basic sciences of orthopedics, i.e., musculoskeletal disease, with unique products invented by him that provide clinical benefit to many patients and that are easy to use by surgeons. Dr. Brannon's8217;s inventions use cutting-edge medical technology in order to offer less-invasive and reduced-risk surgical alternatives to patients suffering from a range of skeletal disorders and bone-related medical conditions. To learn more, visit www.orthopedicsciences.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: Kristi Blicharski / aLine media / 310-371-8795





New Surgical Technique Could Help Save the Hips of Children with Leukemia Suffering From Avascular Necrosis