The Smith & Nephew Endoscopy business unit is a world leader in arthroscopy or minimally invasive surgery of the joint. This includes the knee, shoulder, hip and extremities (hand, wrist, foot and ankle). Endoscopy is a dynamic and growing market, driven by the desire for an improved quality of life among patients, and the increase in sports-related injuries.

There is an increased acceptance of endoscopic techniques by both surgeons and patients. This is largely due to reduced costs to healthcare systems and better outcomes for surgeons, as well as reduced pain and trauma to the patient.

Smith & Nephew offers the broadest range of products to surgeons, giving them the innovative arthroscopic technologies needed for successful surgery. These include instruments for access to joints, cameras to help allow visualisation inside the joint, state-of-the-art blades for resecting tissue and specialised devices to repair damaged tissue. The demand for endoscopic techniques to repair knee injuries has been expanded to help improve movement in shoulders, hips and in small joints such as wrists and ankles. 

Smith & Nephew Endoscopy backs its products with an education and support programme that provides real benefits to surgeons. Among the services offered is the opportunity for surgeons to develop their ideas for new techniques by utilising the Smith & Nephew Surgical Skills Lab. This state-of-the-art facility in Massachusetts enables surgeons to work directly with Smith & Nephew engineers to develop their concepts and explore the commercialisation both of the technique and instrumentation.

Key products and techniques include:

• FAST-FIX^◊ Meniscal Repair System
• KINSA^◊ Suture Anchor  for shoulder fixation
• BIORAPTOR^◊ Suture Anchor the secure solution for bioabsorbable fixation
• DYONICS^◊ 25 Fluid Management System