K2M Announces Global Expansion of Rail 4D(TM)

LEESBURG, Va., Oct 24, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — K2M, Inc., the largest privately held spinal device company in the world focused on developing innovative solutions for the treatment of complex spinal pathologies and minimally invasive procedures, today announced the Global expansion of its breakthrough Rail 4D(TM) Technology at the 2012 North American Spine Society (NASS) Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas. This unique stabilization technology is featured in the MESA Rail(TM) Deformity and MESA Rail Small Stature Spinal Systems to address the most complex spinal curves.First debuted this summer at the 19th International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques (IMAST), K2M is continuing to introduce Rail throughout Europe, most recently in Denmark, Germany and Holland. The technology has already been introduced in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, Ireland, and the United States.
“The European expansion of Rail 4D Technology signals the rapid uptake of this technology and marks another important milestone for the K2M global strategy,” stated Eric Major, K2M’s President and CEO. “Establishing a strong European presence with this unique technology is critical to our commitment to offering the best solutions for physicians and patients around the world.”
Inspired by structural I-beam geometry, the uniquely shaped and proprietary Rail is an alternative to the traditional round spinal rods offered with other products. The Rail provides enhanced structural rigidity, while maintaining a lower-profile than set screw based systems. As compared to a standard 5.5 mm Cobalt Chrome rod, the company’s 5.5 mm Cobalt Chrome Rail is 210 percent stronger in flexion-extension and 46 percent stronger in lateral bending. This technology is exclusive to K2M, as it has been designed to complement the company’s existing MESA(R) Locking and Cricket(R) Reduction Technologies.
“Rail provides the surgeon the ability – in conjunction with state-of-the-art screw technology – to optimally correct the scoliotic spine in the coronal and, more importantly, the sagittal plane. This presents significant short and long term advantages to the scoliotic patient,” stated Mr. Stewart Tucker, MBBS, FRCS (Eng), FRCS (Orth), of the UK’s Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.
Due to the beam-like shape, reducing the Rail Cricket devices will inherently result in rotation of the vertebral bodies as they are pulled up to the Rail. The design offers fixation options for surgeons by helping to apply forces during axial correction of difficult spinal curvatures. It has the potential to reduce intraoperative rod “flattening” that is undesired by surgeons. The Rail may decrease the need for over-bending the construct and give surgeons more predictability and direct control over sagittal balance.