Dr. Silverman is always keeping an eye on innovation and trying to incorporate new techniques and technologies in order to provide the best care for his patients. One company he’s been keeping his eye on is OSSIO Inc., which has been working to develop new surgical hardware that better incorporates into a person’s body so they aren’t left with plates or screws in their ankle or foot after a corrective procedure. Dr. Silverman has successfully incorporated the Ossiofiber during previous surgeries, and now he can cross another another surgical first off his list.
First OSSIO Ingrowth Fixation In The Twin Cities
Last week, Dr. Silverman became the first surgeon in the Twin Cities to perform a bunion correction procedure using Ossio ingrowth fixation. This is a procedure that uses specialized hardware that actually integrates with the patient’s natural bones so that there is no leftover hardware in the area once healing is complete.
This new biointegrative implant will be a gamechanger for patients because it can provide the same strength as traditional hardware without the potential complications caused by metal hardware that either remains in your body for life or requires a second surgery to be removed. Considering roughly 1 in 4 patients need to have “permanent” metal hardware removed in a second operation, you can see how much time and money this biointegrative product can save the patient by preventing removal operations. No more worrying about whether your metal implant will feel uncomfortable or cause localized inflammation, because with Ossio ingrowth fixation, the hardware disappears completely over time.
A unique aspect of the bio-inductive hardware is that it contains the same natural minerals that are found inside your own bones, allowing the product to slowly be absorbed into your bone after it has aided in stability, strength and healing. You can actually see how the product is incorporated into the bone in the three pictures on the right.
Not only does the biointegrative hardware fully integrate into the patient bone after some time, but it also provides benefits in the immediate aftermath of surgery. Patients benefit from earlier stability from a bone integrative product, as opposed to the gradual loss in stability that can develop with metal hardware fixation.
Moreover, the Ossio biointegrative hardware is actually stronger than natural bone and five times stronger than conventional polymer bioabsorbables. The bone, while still healing, is very strong because of the strength and stability provided by the ingrowth fixation.
As Dr. Silverman always says, there exists a race in orthopedic surgery for procedures like osteotomies, fractures and fusions, and that race is whether or not the bone will heal correctly before the metal hardware fails. This implant changes that race. We believe bioinductive hardware will become the standard for certain operations like bunion correction and hammertoes, and we’re pleased to be able to offer this to our patients who are looking for a solution to their toe pain.
For more information about Ossio ingrowth hardware, or to talk to a foot specialist about your foot or toe pain, reach out to Dr. Silverman’s office today.
