Michael Barbella, Managing Editor01.12.23
CurvaFix Inc. has welcomed three new members to its Surgeon Advisory Board.
The new members are versed in orthopedic traumatology, pelvis and acetabular trauma reconstruction, and fragility fractures of the pelvis (FFP) to help the company develop and commercialize a new treatment option for pelvic fractures using the CurvaFix IM Implant.
“The new members of our Surgeon Advisory Board represent a breadth of surgical expertise and technical knowledge across orthopedic trauma medicine, including high-impact pelvic trauma and Fragility Fractures of the Pelvis,” CurvaFix CEO Steve Dimmer said. “These thought leaders bring outstanding research and clinical credentials to CurvaFix’s focus on offering a new approach to pelvic fracture repair that provides strong, stable, curved fixation with a simpler, minimally invasive procedure with the potential to immediately reduce pain, allow for earlier mobility and improve patient recovery compared to traditional surgical techniques,” continued Dimmer.
The newest members of CurvaFix’s Surgeon Advisory Board are:
There are more than 186,000 U.S. hospitalizations for pelvic fractures annually, and the number of such fractures is growing 9% due to an aging population. Of those hospitalized, more than 108,000 are due to FFP injuries in geriatric patients. FFPs can dramatically change the quality of life for geriatric patients and their families due to a loss of patient autonomy, significant disability, and even death. Despite recommendations that surgical treatment should be considered for most pelvic fragility fractures, only 10% receive surgery. For non-operative patients, conservative treatment generally consists of bed confinement, pain control, and mobility assistance while tolerating weight-bearing. Often, conservative treatment leads to lengthy hospitalizations, high nursing home admittance, and a high one-year mortality rate. In contrast, decades of innovation in hip fracture repair have enabled strong, stable surgical fracture fixation to become the standard of care. Ninety-five percent of hip fracture patients receive surgery today, which greatly reduces pain and often allows geriatric hip fracture patients to mobilize soon after surgery.
CurvaFix Inc. is a privately held medical device company headquartered in Bellevue, Wash. CurvaFix is developing implantable products to improve fracture repair in curved bones, focusing on FFP and high-impact pelvic fractures. The CurvaFix IM Implant has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The new members are versed in orthopedic traumatology, pelvis and acetabular trauma reconstruction, and fragility fractures of the pelvis (FFP) to help the company develop and commercialize a new treatment option for pelvic fractures using the CurvaFix IM Implant.
“The new members of our Surgeon Advisory Board represent a breadth of surgical expertise and technical knowledge across orthopedic trauma medicine, including high-impact pelvic trauma and Fragility Fractures of the Pelvis,” CurvaFix CEO Steve Dimmer said. “These thought leaders bring outstanding research and clinical credentials to CurvaFix’s focus on offering a new approach to pelvic fracture repair that provides strong, stable, curved fixation with a simpler, minimally invasive procedure with the potential to immediately reduce pain, allow for earlier mobility and improve patient recovery compared to traditional surgical techniques,” continued Dimmer.
The newest members of CurvaFix’s Surgeon Advisory Board are:
- Samir Mehta, M.D.. is a Philadelphia-based orthopedic trauma surgeon at a Level I University Hospital. He holds several local, national, and international leadership positions in orthopedic trauma.
- Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. Pol Maria Rommens is a retired head of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology at the University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, Germany. Professor Rommens is currently an AO Trauma International Board member and chairperson of the AO Trauma Research Commission. He has authored 675 original papers, including Comprehensive Classification of Fragility Fractures of the Pelvic Ring: Recommendations for Treatment (2013), and is co-editor of the book, "Fragility Fractures of the Pelvis" (2017).
- G. Karl Van Osten, III, M.D., is a director of Orthopedic Trauma Service at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. Van Osten has conducted research in fracture mechanics, reconstruction, and nail fixation. He maintains an active interest in research endeavors and is a frequent presenter in local and national surgeon education programs.
There are more than 186,000 U.S. hospitalizations for pelvic fractures annually, and the number of such fractures is growing 9% due to an aging population. Of those hospitalized, more than 108,000 are due to FFP injuries in geriatric patients. FFPs can dramatically change the quality of life for geriatric patients and their families due to a loss of patient autonomy, significant disability, and even death. Despite recommendations that surgical treatment should be considered for most pelvic fragility fractures, only 10% receive surgery. For non-operative patients, conservative treatment generally consists of bed confinement, pain control, and mobility assistance while tolerating weight-bearing. Often, conservative treatment leads to lengthy hospitalizations, high nursing home admittance, and a high one-year mortality rate. In contrast, decades of innovation in hip fracture repair have enabled strong, stable surgical fracture fixation to become the standard of care. Ninety-five percent of hip fracture patients receive surgery today, which greatly reduces pain and often allows geriatric hip fracture patients to mobilize soon after surgery.
CurvaFix Inc. is a privately held medical device company headquartered in Bellevue, Wash. CurvaFix is developing implantable products to improve fracture repair in curved bones, focusing on FFP and high-impact pelvic fractures. The CurvaFix IM Implant has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.