WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 28, 2005) . . . An international teaching institute has been formed to train surgeons, physicians and healthcare professionals in the latest advances in orthopedic and spinal surgical techniques and applications. Announced at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons conference last week, the institute will be known as the International Surgical Techniques Institute (ISTI) and will be located in Houston, Texas.

ISTI will also contribute to common pools of data and best practices in advancing surgical procedures, devices and tools.

“New technologies are rapidly changing the way medicine is practiced and ISTI will bridge the gap in ensuring that surgeons, specifically those in orthopedics, have the opportunity to keep pace with and learn new techniques, use new devices and share resources internationally,” according to R. Mark Lane, Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Marketing at OSI, a CHARTER MEMBER of the new institute. Lane added, “Physician education is a prime component of our own corporate goals at OSI.”

A specific procedure that ISTI initially will focus on is the anterior approach to hip replacement, where a single mini-incision is made in the front of the hip which eliminates cutting muscle from the pelvis or the femur. Because there is less tissue and muscle damage, recovery is much faster. This procedure, used for many years in Europe, is less invasive compared to traditional posterior hip replacement surgery and requires fewer days in the hospital. As importantly, patients generally are walking the same day as their surgery and little or no physical therapy is needed afterward.

Stefan W. Kreuzer, M.D., a leading Houston Orthopedic Surgeon and partner in the Training Institute states, “In the U.S. today, there are very few resources or places for orthopedic surgeons that not only give them information on procedures such as the anterior approach or the tools and devices that are available to them for such surgeries, let alone the opportunity to have hands-on training in advance of performing surgery on their patients.” Kreuzer adds, “ISTI will bring new technologies and clinicians together in an environment that translates directly to better patient care.”

In addition to hands-on training, ISTI will offer e-learning opportunities regarding procedures, devices and data sharing. The institute plans to offer training classes as early as Fall of 2005.