ALACHUA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

RTI Surgical, Inc. (Nasdaq: RTIX), a global surgical implant company, today announced data on the SImmetry® Sacroiliac Joint Fusion System have been published in The Spine Journal, the official journal of the North American Spine Society. The study results demonstrate the SImmetry System produces effective joint fixation, markedly reducing range of motion (ROM) in the SI joint. The SImmetry System is the only minimally-invasive surgical procedure that uses proprietary decortication technology to help facilitate bone fusion, providing opportunity for long-term relief.

“These results reinforce the effectiveness of the SImmetry System in aiding patients who suffer from chronic low back pain caused by SI joint dysfunction,” said Camille Farhat, President and CEO, RTI Surgical. “The SImmetry System is the only minimally-invasive surgical procedure that promotes SI joint fusion through decortication, reducing the range of motion in all directions with only two implants.”

RTI Surgical recently acquired the SImmetry System as it continues to invest in advanced spinal surgery innovations supported by clinical data, including minimally-invasive technologies that ease the surgical experience and may help patient outcomes.

About The Study: “Biomechanical Evaluation of Sacroiliac Joint Fixation with Decortication”

The manuscript describes the results of a human cadaveric biomechanical study in which two minimally-invasive techniques for placing primary (12.5mm) and secondary (8.5mm) threaded implants were compared for their effectiveness in stabilizing the SI joint. The study also evaluated the link between fixation and bone mineral density, as well as the impact of removing the secondary implant on construct rigidity. Fourteen human cadaveric SI joints were prepared, grafted and then fixated using threaded SImmetry implants. Mechanical testing on the rigidity of the construct and ROM calculation was completed at the study initiation with the joint intact, after destabilization, after implantation, and after removal of the secondary implant.

This biomechanics study found that the SImmetry implants provided a significant, 65-71 percent reduction in joint motion using multiple configurations of the implants. This benefit was maintained after repeated loading, and was greater than that seen in previous studies using triangular SI joint implants. The results provided evidence of immediate fixation, which is intended to relieve pain and provide an environment suited to bone growth across the joint, which is the ultimate goal in long-term relief of SI joint pain.

Growing Body of Evidence on SImmetry System

These study results support the growing body of evidence on the effectiveness of the SImmetry System. The ongoing EVoluSIon Clinical Study is evaluating the impact of SImmetry on SI joint fusion and pain reduction in up to 250 patients at up to 40 sites. More than 180 patients have been enrolled to date. An early analysis of the first 50 patients published in December 2017 showed a 54 percent reduction in SI joint pain at six months as well as a 55 percent reduction in opioid use.¹ A separate CT fusion study on the SImmetry System demonstrated a 73 percent reduction in average pain over 24 months.² Additional data from the EVoluSIon Clinical Study will be presented at the upcoming International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS) 2018 Annual Meeting taking place April 11-13 in Toronto, Canada.

Approximately 20 percent of all chronic low back pain derives from the SI joint,³ which links the base of the spine to the pelvic bone. When nonsurgical therapy is ineffective in managing SI joint pain, surgical fusion is a viable long-term option. Traditional open fixation is a complex and invasive procedure associated with considerable morbidity and risk of injury.⁴

About RTI Surgical, Inc.

RTI Surgical is a leading global surgical implant company providing surgeons with safe biologic, metal and synthetic implants. Committed to delivering a higher standard, RTI’s implants are used in sports medicine, general surgery, spine, orthopedic, trauma and cardiothoracic procedures and are distributed in nearly 50 countries. RTI has four manufacturing facilities throughout the U.S. and Europe. RTI is accredited in the U.S. by the American Association of Tissue Banks and is a member of AdvaMed. For more information, please visit www.rtix.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, our management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by our management. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, except for historical information, any statements made in this communication about anticipated financial results, growth rates, new product introductions, future operational improvements, gaining market share and results or regulatory actions or approvals or changes to agreements with distributors also are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the risks described in public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Our actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results reflected in these forward-looking statements. Copies of the company's SEC filings may be obtained by contacting the company or the SEC or by visiting RTI's website at www.rtix.com or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

¹ Araghi A et al. Pain and Opioid use Outcomes Following Minimally Invasive Sacroiliac Joint Fusion with Decortication and Bone Grafting: The Evolusion Clinical Trial. Open Orthop J. 2017;11:1440-1448.

² Cross W et al. Minimally Invasive Sacroiliac Joint Fusion: 2-Year Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes with a Principles-Based SIJ Fusion System. Open Orthop J. 2018 Jan 17;12:7-16.

³ Cohen SP et al. Sacroiliac Joint Pain: A Comprehensive Review of Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Treatment. Expert Rev Neurother. 2013; 13(1):99-116.

⁴ Snyder LA et al. The technological development of minimally invasive spine surgery. Biomed Res Int. 2014:293582.

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