LOQTEQ®

Comparative study of aap osteotomy implant's fatigue strength reveals outstanding characteristics compared with market leader

aap Implantate AG / LOQTEQ®: Comparative study of aap osteotomy implant's fatigue strength reveals outstanding characteristics compared with market leader . Processed and transmitted by NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

aap announces that the Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, the official journal of the German-speaking Arthroscopy Association (AGA), have published a new study proving the excellent performance of the LOQTEQ® High Tibial Osteotomy plate.

The LOQTEQ® osteotomy system developed by aap consists of two types of plates to correct malalignment of the upper (femur) and lower leg (tibia) and has been successfully applied for more than a year in Germany and many other countries. In addition to integrating the LOQTEQ® technology, the system is mainly characterised by the lean design of the LOQTEQ® high tibial osteotomy (HTO) plate compared with the market leader's TomoFix(TM)^[1] medial tibial osteotomy plate, which was also tested. The design is intended to avoid soft tissue irritation and thereby lead to a relief of the burden on the patient. CE approval to the system was granted in May 2013, followed in November 2013 by the FDA approval for the US market.

In a biomechanical study of its fatigue strength by Petersen^[2] et al., aap's LOQTEQ® high tibial osteotomy plate was tested in comparison with the market leader's TomoFix(TM) medial tibial osteotomy plate. The results of the study have been published online on July 12, 2014 in the Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, published by Springer-Verlag of Berlin and Heidelberg. Their summary states that the "fatigue strength of the LOQTEQ® HTO plate was significantly higher in comparison to TomoFix(TM). These results justify the clinical use of the LOQTEQ® HTO plate."^[3]

The findings of this study confirm yet again the strategy pursued by aap of a strategic alignment to innovations that deliver both clinical and economic benefits. These include ease of handling, ease of implantation and removal, reduced risks for the patient and healthcare cost savings.

aap plans to publish the full quarterly report for Q2 2014 on August 14, 2014.

About High Tibial Osteotomy (HTO)

HTO is an effective surgery for the treatment of knee malalignment to reduce the pain and stiffness from osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis can develop when the bones of the knee and leg do not line up properly. This can put extra pressure on one side of the knee. Over time, this extra stress can wear away the cartilage that protects the knee joint, causing pain and stiffness. HTO is performed to transfer the body weight from the damaged side of the knee to the preserved normal side. The prevalence of knee osteoarthritis increases with age. The HTO surgery is often used to treat osteoarthritis especially for middle-aged active patients as well as older people are staying active longer and is often used as an alternative treatment to total knee replacement.