Titan Spine Adds to Advisory Board

Titan Spine LLC, a Mequon, Wis.-based spine interbody fusion device maker, has appointed two spine surgeons to its “key opinion leader advisory team.” Kade T. Huntsman, M.D., of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Axel Reinhardt, M.D., of Potsdam, Germany, bring experience in degenerative spine conditions and innovative interbody fusion techniques, and hopefully will guide development of the company’s Endoskeleton interbody device portfolio.

“We welcome Dr. Huntsman and Dr. Reinhardt to our key opinion leader advisory team, where their thought leadership will be invaluable as we look to enhance our surface technology platform,” said Paul Slosar, M.D., medical director for Titan Spine. “Their clinical expertise and insights into fusion techniques will assist our efforts to build out our Endoskeleton implant portfolio for new applications in spine care, and help further our commitment to optimizing the outcomes of interbody fusion through the application of our surface technology expertise.”

Huntsman is a board certified spine surgeon who specializes in degenerative spine conditions and spine trauma at St. Mark’s Hospital, LDS Hospital, and Salt Lake Orthopaedic Clinic (all in Salt Lake City). He has led research into the safety and efficacy of various interbody fusion techniques, with a focus on the lateral approach. He is a member of numerous medical societies, including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the North American Spine Society, and the Scoliosis Research Society.

“Titan Spine’s surface technology has the potential to transform interbody fusion by enabling the device to actively contribute to bone formation at the implant site,” said Hunstman. “I am excited to collaborate with the company and fellow members of the key opinion leader team to further the development of this technology and its integration into spinal care.”

Reinhardt is head of the department of spinal surgery at Specialized Orthopaedic Hospital and medical director of Oberlin Clinic, both in Potsdam. He is a founding member of the Spine Study Group, a multicenter initiative focused on investigating degenerative spine diseases and operative treatment results. Reinhardt also is a member of AO Spine, an international community of spine care professionals, and was the first in Europe to perform surgery using Titan Spine’s interbody fusion devices.

“The Endoskeleton devices provide an ideal environment for bone growth by promoting the body’s natural osteogenic response,” said Reinhardt. “They also offer advantages for efficient implantation and positioning in the disc space, with strong bone purchase, and in my experience, patients have achieved rapid and robust fusion. I look forward to helping guide the development of the technology and increasing awareness of its value among surgeons internationally.”

Titan Spine markets a line of Endoskeleton interbody devices for use in the lumbar and cervical spine. The cages feature a proprietary acid-etched surface that is textured at the macro, micro and cellular levels to support bone purchase and new bone growth. According to the company, cellular research has demonstrated the surface promotes a superior bone-forming response as compared to certain smooth titanium and polyetheretherketone implants.