DJO Acquires MedShape Inc.

DJO has completed the acquisition of MedShape Inc., a privately held orthopedic medical device company founded in 2005. MedShape offers surgical solutions for foot and ankle surgeons using its superelastic nickel titanium (NiTiNOL) shape memory alloy and shape memory polymer technologies.
 
The acquired business’ portfolio includes devices for fracture fixation, joint fusion, and soft tissue injury repair that use biomaterial technologies. The superelastic properties of NiTiNOL create devices that actively participate and respond to changes at the surgical site, such as bone resorption, maintaining compression and bony apposition throughout healing. MedShape’s DynaNail TTC Fusion System, launched in 2011, has over 30 clinical publications and podium presentations showing decreased failure rates and improved fusion times utilizing NiTiNOL technology compared to static solutions.^1,2,3
 
“Based on our long-term success and deep relationships in both our Prevention & Recovery and Recon segments, we made a strategic decision to meaningfully expand into the fast-growing Foot and Ankle market. We believe our acquisitions of STAR, Trilliant Surgical, and now MedShape have created a strong position in the space and will create a rapid growth platform,” Brady Shirley, CEO of DJO told the press. “MedShape’s patented technology and growing suite of foot & ankle innovations complement our existing portfolio and strengthen our key strategic imperative of superior clinical outcomes.”
 
The Foot and Ankle market is expected to grow and reach $1.58B by 2025.4 Among the factors driving the market are a rapidly growing elderly population, increasing prevalence of diabetes and a number of sports-related injuries.⁴ The MedShape product line opens a new market entry for a suite of surgical solutions that actively participate in the bone healing process and creates new options for self-adapting foot and ankle implants.
 
“As the industry leader in developing shape memory technologies and successfully applying that science to foot and ankle products, we have unbounded future potential,” said Ken Gall, Ph.D., Professor at Duke University and Co-founder of MedShape. “We are excited to continue developing and integrating this breakthrough science to expand into other areas of orthopedics leveraging DJO’s market leadership, patient outcome focus and commitment to product innovation.” Dr. Gall will take on a new role at DJO and become the Chief Scientific Officer for the growing Reconstructive segment.
 
References
¹ Ford, Samuel E., John Y. Kwon, and J. Kent Ellington. “Tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis utilizing a titanium intramedullary nail with an internal pseudoelastic nitinol compression element: a retrospective case series of 33 patients.” The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery 58.2 (2019): 266-272.
² Steele, John R., et al. “Comparison of tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodeses using a sustained dynamic compression nail versus nondynamized nails.” Foot & ankle specialist 13.3 (2020): 193-200.
³ Conklin, Mark Jay, et al. “Total ankle replacement conversion to tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis with bulk femoral head allograft and pseudoelastic intramedullary nail providing sustained joint compression.” Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics 3.4 (2018): 2473011418804487.
⁴ SmartTrak Foot & Ankle Market Overview: https://app.smarttrak.com/markets/qs/fd52946dc2bd8b02ac1002535b62cf35