Arthrosurface Incorporated, a developer of less-invasive joint restoration systems, performed its first motion preserving metatarsal resurfacing procedure in the US during January of 2005. The Company’s implant utilizes innovative patient-matched surface geometries which allow the toe joint to be restored to its native curvatures. The implant provides dorsal surface coverage to help prevent osteophyte formation, maintaining the mobility of the toe joint after being restored. The HemiCAP® Toe system is comprised of two components, a cap and screw that mate together via taper lock. This design provides immediate and reliable fixation which is the foundation of the HemiCAP® technology. Recently, Arthrosurface also received FDA Clearance for the HemiCAP® Toe implant as a device which can be used without bone cement. This FDA Clearance was supported by multiple published studies that demonstrated the stability of the tapered post fixation, highlighting the unique advantages of the patented HemiCAP® design.
“This has been a great addition for all foot and ankle surgeons in providing up-to-date medical care to their patients. Fixation remains the main shortfall of all other toe implant devices on the market which is why the HemiCAP’s® threaded cementless taper post is so crucial to our positive outcomes. Without cement there is less bone loss and it’s very easy to convert to a fusion if that is ever needed. That being said, I have never had one loosen when used without cement,” said Dr. Brian Carpenter, DPM, UNT Bone and Joint Institute in Fort Worth, Texas.
“In developing all of our product lines, Arthrosurface has focused on early joint intervention at the site where the disease begins. Ironically, all of the toe implants that existed prior to the HemiCAP® actually resurfaced the least problematic side of the joint. Since the launch of our toe implant, several competitors have followed with their metatarsal based implants; however, no other predicate devices with a threaded cementless fixation option currently exist. Remarkably, some predicate devices simply rely on a stem pressed into the shaft of the metatarsal. We relied on our outstanding peer reviewed published clinical data to obtain this cementless clearance,” commented Steve Ek, CEO of Arthrosurface, Inc.
Dr. Carl Hasselman, Foot and Ankle Specialist at UPMC in Pittsburgh noted; “I realized over 10 years ago that toe fusion should not be the gold standard for first ray arthritis because it did not preserve motion. Supported by published results and the 300+ HemiCAPs® which I have personally implanted, I have never seen a component loosen in my 9 years of experience. Patients fly in from all over the country to receive the HemiCAP® and I have even taken well fused toe joints apart because the patients were having pain from the stiffness of their joint. Other physicians are slowly but surely realizing that the HemiCAP® is a very viable alternative for the treatment of hallux rigidus and I am convinced that the outcomes and the strong screw fixation will stand the test of time.”
