SBi Founder and CEO Sees Continuing Growth in Small Bone and Joint Sector of Orthopedics Market

NEW YORK--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Revenues in the small bone and joint (or ‘extremities’) sector of the estimated $41 billion orthopedic devices market are forecast to continue outpacing growth rates in hip, knee and spine implants, according to Viscogliosi Brothers. LLC, (VB), a merchant bank specializing in orthopedics.

“Our focus on the small bone and joint sector has resulted in more than 7,000 surgeons being trained to treat thousands of arthritis and trauma patients with SBi’s innovative, non-fusion implants designed both to eliminate arthritis pain and preserve joint function.”

Estimated sales in the small bone and joint sector have almost doubled from $1.7 billion in 2007 to $3.3 billion in 2011, representing more than 8% of the overall orthopedic device market. VB estimates continuing sector growth in the range of 12-15% annually.

Anthony G. Viscogliosi, who is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Small Bone Innovations, Inc., (SBi), noted in a speech to staff this week, that: “Our focus on the small bone and joint sector has resulted in more than 7,000 surgeons being trained to treat thousands of arthritis and trauma patients with SBi’s innovative, non-fusion implants designed both to eliminate arthritis pain and preserve joint function.”

Mr. Viscogliosi, who said he will become SBi’s Executive Chairman upon the appointment of a new CEO later this month, noted that although the small bone and joint sector used to be dominated by traditional fusion products such as screws, plates, pins and wire, the fastest growing technologies now are non-fusion joint replacements such as the company’s STAR™ ankle replacement.

“STAR ankle procedures in the US increased by 48% last year, compared with 2010. This was in part due to private health insurers revising their reimbursement policies to demonstrate a preference for evidence-based medicine in this procedure,” Mr. Viscogliosi said.

“The growth of SBi and its strategy of transforming the sector by focusing on evidence-based medicine, demonstrated by the efficacy of the STAR ankle, could help overall sector sales reach $3.7 billion this year, and sustain last year’s renewed level of activity in M&A transactions, private financings and the IPO market,” he added.

All market data and estimates provided by Viscogliosi Bros., LLC

About Small Bone Innovations, Inc.

Small Bone Innovations, Inc. (SBi) was founded in 2004 by Viscogliosi Brothers, LLC (VB), the New York-based merchant banking firm that specializes in the musculoskeletal/orthopedics sector.

SBi was the first company to focus purely on small bones & joints by integrating established companies and professionals in the field. It offers a broad, clinically proven portfolio of products and technologies to treat trauma and diseases in the small bones & joints. SBi has facilities in New York, NY, Morrisville, PA, Péronnas, France, Donaueschingen, Germany, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and has sold its products in 46 countries.

For a notice on Forward Looking Statements and more information about SBi, please visit: www.totalsmallbone.com/us/press.php4. For product and patient information about the STAR ankle please visit: www.star-ankle.com and www.staranklereplacement.com.

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