Carbon Clavicle Implant Aids Lance Armstrong’s Recovery
Today, Lance Armstrong and Bontrager released more detail regarding Armstrong’s recent collarbone surgery. While it was previously reported that Armstrong’s right clavicle was screwed and plated back together after his March 23rd crash at the Castilla y Leon stage race in Spain, Armstrong and equipment sponsor Bontrager, jointly announced that he was the world’s first recipient of an inForm® Full Carbon Clavicle Upgrade.
Originally slated to be released at the AAOS (American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeon) Convention May 18-24th in Las Vegas, Bontrager moved up the launch date of the inForm CarbonClavicle to aid the return of Armstrong to the peloton.
“The original intent of the Bontrager inForm line was to use medical research to aid us in creating better cycling contact points, such as saddles, shoes, and grips. But when we did the research into the most common cycling-related injuries, the broken collarbone proved to be an area where we could actually help cyclists get back on the road sooner,” relates John Balmer, head of Bontrager Development.
The CarbonClavicle, available for both left and right shoulders in four male sizes and four WSD (Women’s Specific Design) sizes, is an actual carbon fiber replacement of the clavicle. Developed with the aid of Sports Medicine Specialist Dr. Mark Timmerman, a Bontrager consultant, the inForm CarbonClavicle has greater shock absorption, greater impact strength, and a greater tensile strength—all while being grams lighter than the OEM bone.
“The installation on Armstrong was completely coincidental. But I must admit, the Bontrager marketing team was doing high-fives when we heard about Lance’s crash. It really was a marketing god-send. I mean, could there have been a better way to launch the new Bontrager medical Upgrade line?” explains Chris Clinton, Bontrager Marketing Manager.
The installation procedure is substantially quicker than the conventional collarbone repair procedures of stabilizing, drilling and pinning, as this is a full replacement. Essentially, the broken bone is completely removed and the CarbonClavicle is anchored in place. Armstrong’s procedure took approximately 30 minutes and will reduce his recovery time from 3 weeks, to 5-7 days for the sutures to fully heal.
The delay in releasing details was due to an extended approval process with the UCI, which has now ruled that since this piece is structural yet provides only minor aerodynamic advantage over the traditional ‘bump’ of a healed broken clavicle, it falls with the current parameters of the UCI rules.
Future sponsorship plans include full support and pre-emptive upgrades for the full Trek-Livestrong U23 team. “These guys are early in their careers, and if averages apply to the team, we think we can prevent about ten or more future breaks across the 12 members of the team,” adds Clinton.
Backed by Bontrager’s best-in-industry 5-year warranty, inForm CarbonClavicles will be available through referrals from Trek and Fisher dealers exclusively. Retail prices will be set by the retailer.
For more information, please visit Bontrager online at www.bontrager.com and check today’s date
8 Comments
Ken Hurd on April 2nd, 2009
Not sure about the colors, but I do know you can have your name engraved on it ;-)
Sheldon Smart on April 3rd, 2009
I’m going to have my entire skeletal structure replaced with carbon!I’m thinking, in yellow…
joe berard on April 27th, 2009
This has to be a joke, but it looked so real I was almost fooled.
Ken Hurd on April 27th, 2009
@Joe Haha, yeah, I thought the same thing when I first read the article… It sure would have been neat if it was true ;-)
randy on October 5th, 2009
you made me laugh!…didnt even have to read the article…one glance at the xray and you can see that it belongs to a kid (i.e. growth plates are still open) hehe.. loved the carbon fiber clavicle pic tho
Carol on January 2nd, 2010
Didn’t any one notice that the heart in this x-ray is on the side marked right not the left like normal? Also as an x-ray tech I can say that it looks like an x-ray of an average sized teenager not he mighty Lance. What a CROCK!!!
broken clavicle...surgery or not? - Page 38 on February 6th, 2010
[...] collar bone removed and replaced by a titanium stainless steel implant. You mean this link? Carbon Clavicle Implant Aids Lance Armstrong’s Recovery | Bikeridr This looks like a hoax. I can't find any further confirmation of [...]
Graeme & Myra on April 2nd, 2009
Nice! Do you think they do it in any other colours? I know a guy who knows a guy who works for Enigma and word is that they are working on titanium sit-bones to replace/enhance the OEM ones to make long distance rides more efficient and less painful, especially if used alongside the matching saddle.