84% Fusion Rate vs 16% – New JFAS Hammertoe Study

A new study published in The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery, “Dual-Component Intramedullary Implant Versus Kirchner Wire for Proximal Interphalangeal Joint Fusion: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial, ” compared using the Nextra implant to K-wires. Nextra crushed K-wires in terms of fusion rates.

The study, which was a randomized treatment group vs control group trial, found clear advantages to the Nextra Hammertoe Correction System to treat hammertoe deformity. K-wires are considered to be the traditional treatment for Hammertoe correction.

Nextra is a two-piece implant developed by Nextremity Solutions, Inc., located in Warsaw, Indiana. In the study it achieved a five times higher rate of bone fusion than did the K-wires—84% fusion rate with Nextra versus 16% with K-wires.

Mike Coon, Executive Director of Sales & Marketing for Nextremity Solutions, Inc., said, “Some of the issues with the utilization of K-wires in hammertoe surgery are a lack of fusion, lack of rotational stability, risk of infection with post-operative K-Wire exposure, and poor patient satisfaction. According to the study, patients with the Nextra implant not only had drastic improvements in fusion rates but also experienced greater pain relief, a decrease in disability and an increase in activity levels.”