News from AAOS: FDA Clears Toe Restoration System from Arthrosurface

Arthrosurface Inc., a developer of less-invasive joint restoration systems, received U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance for its new ToeMotion total toe restoration system, which the Franklin, Mass.-based company is launching at this week’s American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) annual meeting in New Orleans, La.

ToeMotion consists of a metatarsal-based HemiCAP implant and a new inlay metal baseplate with a poly insert for the phalangeal side of the joint. The system is designed to provide fixation, while the inlay implants preserve bone. Because it is implanted by milling instead of by using saw cuts, the device avoids resecting the intrinsic tissues that provide stability to the toe.

“For many years we have been using the metatarsal based HemiCAP with great success,” said Thomas San Giovanni, M.D., the surgeon from the University of Miami who designed the implant. “However, there are patients that require an implant on both sides of the joint, rather than a fusion, so now we can offer a motion preserving option to those patients looking to maintain an active lifestyle. In Florida, our patients are active and outdoors all year long so they are looking for an active alternative to fusion. Never moving their toe again is not a very appealing option to them, so this is why I have been working with Arthrosurface to design a system that would be minimally invasive, stable and allow my patients to maintain their motion.”

At AAOS, Arthrosurface plans to showcase the product as part of its extremity portfolio. In the last few years, Arthrosurface expanded its design efforts to bring new foot and ankle products to the market, building on the company’s shoulder implant experience.

“The extremities market is providing an excellent opportunity for growth over the next several years,” said Steve Ek, CEO and co-founder of Arthrosurface. “As such, we are targeting to launch another five extremity products along with the new ToeMotion system. Our platform technology for rock-solid immediate fixation and inlay arthroplasty has been proven to work on many different joints. But, what is really exciting is how well suited inlay arthroplasty is for the extremity joints. These joints are inherently smaller, very mobile and traditionally have not done very well with larger more invasive implants that require a lot of bone removal. Smaller implants that restore anatomy and take away very little bone is the wave of the future.”

Arthrosurface was founded in 2002.

At AAOS, the company is exhibiting in booth 6529.