Memory Shape Fixation for Bunion Surgery Launched

BioMedical Enterprises, Inc. (BME), a privately held company in San Antonio, Texas, has launched its Speed Triad Nitinol Bone Fixation Implant—for bunions. Company spokesmen say this is the world’s first superelastic shape memory bone fixation system with three legs for stable, six-point fixation. The design, they say, gives surgeons a fast, reproducible way to achieve continuous compressive fixation of osteotomies performed to address bunion deformities.

To treat bunions surgeons typically make a V-shaped cut across the first metatarsal head which allows the head to slide laterally. The traditional fixation for this procedure is the placement of one or two screws across the osteotomy.

The Speed Triad implant is “made of the shape memory metal Nitinol and is designed with a bowing bridge and a converging proximal leg that provides compression along the long axis of the bone segments.” Company officials say that, “unlike screws, the Speed Triad has the ability to maintain compression through repetitive loading. The device is available in multiple configurations, for both medial and dorsal placement along the distal first metatarsal. The Speed Triad implant comes ready-to-use on a pre-loaded insertion tool.”

“The Speed Triad implant is challenging the status quo, ” stated. Kent Ellington, M.D., attending orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon, OrthoCarolina. “I have been using Speed Triad in patients with mild to moderate hallux valgus for several months. Using the Triad definitely saves me time in the OR, and the clinical results have been consistent, regardless of which placement or configuration of the implant I’ve used. In cases that I’ve used Triad, I’ve been able to expedite the patient’s return to function without complication. Without question, this is an innovation that was long overdue.”