Zimmer Acquires ExtraOrtho

Zimmer Orthopedics has announced the acquisition of ExtraOrtho, Inc. This further enhances the external fixation line offered by Zimmer, as the merger adds the XtraFix External Fixation System to their foot and ankle product line.

“This acquisition further enhances Zimmer’s position in the vital and growing external bone fixation market,” said Jeff Paulsen, President, Zimmer Global Businesses. ”The XtraFix technology is one of the most simple and effective solutions for external fixation, and we’re confident that trauma care professionals will welcome this addition to Zimmer’s comprehensive portfolio of external and internal fixation products.”

Both foot and ankle product lines are viewable at FootandAnkleFixation.com

More Fixation Articles

On the heels of the October edition of Clinics in Podiatric Medicine & Surgery, in which the entire journal was dedicated to the Advances in Fixation Technology in foot and ankle surgery, the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery now has a similar issue. Their November edition has 12 articles that specifically involve new findings and techniques with a variety of surgical fixation, including the Arthrex Tight Rope suture button, Gramedica HyProCure arthroereisis, Wright Medical Inbone total ankle replacement implant, Smith and Nephew Taylor Spatial Frame, and the Box total ankle replacement. Additionally, there are publications that involve screw fixation versus locking plates, external fixation with callus distraction, and new techniques with both screw fixation and wire fixation.

Whether new concepts are presented for the first time or previously described methods are further supported, these publications help aid in the overall evolution of foot and ankle surgery. Our goal at www.FootandAnkleFixation.com is to help create surgical awareness about your fixation options, as it not only impacts you as a physician but also your patient.

Advances in Fixation Technology

We here at SurgicalFixation.com were excited and enthused when we came across the recent October publication of Clinics in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery (www.theclinics.com). The issue is dedicated to “Advances in Fixation Technology for the Foot and Ankle”. This collection of articles proves exciting for us as it demonstrates that there is value in our work of aggregating fixation information.This publication also validates the importance of staying informed about what’s available for use in surgery, as this knowledge will continue to drive the evolution of foot and ankle technology and ultimately the nature of foot and ankle surgery. Clearly put, as fixation technology continues to evolve, there is a direct impact on surgical techniques and surgical standards. This directly impacts you as a surgeon and ultimately the patient.

One of the more noticeable advancements in surgical fixation technology in recent times is the evolution of the locking plate. Most surgeons by now are familiar with the “apple video” that demonstrates the effective pullout strength comparison between non-locking and locking screws. This technology has rapidly evolved as the standard in fracture fixation and is becoming increasingly more common in elective surgery. One article in the October edition of The Clinics in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, Locking Plate Technology and Its Use in Foot and Ankle Surgery, reviews this innovation and its impact on foot and ankle surgery.

At SurgicalFixation, we echo consulting editor Thomas Zgonis when he says that advances in fixation technology for the foot and ankle are simply evident by the seemingly endless stream of new products within the field. We couldn’t agree more, and this is the premise for developing www.FootandAnkleFixation.com. New products will continue to shape the future of foot and ankle surgery and our authoritative resources will continue to strive to broadcast the most up to date surgical fixation information, thus keeping surgeons maximally informed and prepared.

Circular External Fixation Course

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons is holding a two and a half day program on the ins and outs of circular fixators. The event will take place in Scottsdale, AZ at the FireSky Resort over the 28-30th of Ocotber. 

The fee for ACFAS Members and residents is $895, non-members is $1095. The course is worth 22 CME hours and you can register here.

Limb Deformity Course Sept. 1st - 4th

The 21st Annual Baltimore Limb Deformity Course will be held this upcoming September 1st - 4th and includes the Pre-Course on Ponseti Clubfoot techniques as well as the Post-Course on Advanced Training with the Taylor Spatial Frame. The courses will cover multiple topics including application of internal & external fixation such as monolateral / circular external fixation and fixator-assisted plating and nailing.

Surgeons can still register for the course here.

External Fixation Pins & Nitric Oxide

As with every month, there are a plethora of journals for us here at FootandAnkleFixation.com to scour through and we try to pull out the most interesting and pertinent articles that pertain to foot and ankle surgery and fixation. Some months there is a paucity of literature that is relevant to our interest and in others there is an abundance that we will pour over into the Daily Fix. And in our readings for this month comes a few interesting articles that we didn't want to leave out. So without further ado....

Researchers at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC and in conjunction with the Department of Orthopaedics, and Department of Chemistry have published a paper in the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma on the antibacterial activity of nitric oxide (NO)-releasing xerogel on titanium pins used as external fixation in rat models. They found that in comparison to a control group and xerogel without nitric oxide, the group of rats that had the nitric oxide (NO)-releasing xerogel demonstrated significantly lower counts of pin tract bacterial colony counts and fewer clinical signs of infection. In the end they concluded the following:

"The application of NO-releasing xerogel coatings can inhibit bacterial colonization of external fixation pins both during the initial postsurgical period and up to 48 days postimplantation."

For those of you interested in reading further about their findings, you can purchase the entire article here from The Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma.

Three-day External Fixation Course

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons currently has online registration availble for their three-day external fixation course for the foot and ankle. The course will cover both monolateral and ring fixation frame construction and techniques. This years course will be held in Scottsdale, AZ over the weekend of October 28-30. You can register online here. 

The three-day course, which is sponsored by Orthofix, covers topics ranging from callus distraction to complex fracture and entails both lectures and sawbone workshops. The current faculty, per the ACFAS website include the following: 

    Byron L. Hutchinson, DPM, FACFAS, Co-Chair 

    Paul D. Dayton, DPM, FACFAS, Co-Chair 

    Paul S. Bishop, DPM, FACFAS 

    Joseph R. Disabato, DPM, FACFAS

    Daniel J. Hatch, DPM, FACFAS 

    Robert W. Mendicino, DPM, FACFAS 

    James L. Thomas, DPM, FACFAS