e+ Polyethylene Ankle Replacement System Unveiled in U.S.

Enovis Corporation’s Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement (STAR Ankle), with new e+ Polyethylene, is now available in the United States. Thanks to recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, the STAR Ankle the first and only mobile bearing ankle system with e+ Polyethylene in America.¹ The implant’s new vitamin E-blended e+ Polyethylene insert offers improved durability, stability, and longevity.¹
 
“With e+ Polyethylene, we uphold our commitment to the advancement of our total ankle portfolio, merging full oxidative resistance with the time-tested design of the STAR Ankle,” Enovis Foot & Ankle President/General Manager Gary Justak said. “…the proven success of the STAR Ankle epitomizes our culture of advancing foot and ankle solutions and elevating patient treatment options. We don’t just set the standard—we redefine it.”
 
e+ Polyethylene contains the free radical-neutralizing antioxidant vitamin E; consequently, the material resists oxidation and maintains consistent wear rates and stable mechanical properties over time. In contrast, other highly crosslinked polyethylenes are remelted during manufacturing to neutralize free radicals,² a process that can reduce their mechanical strength by up to 12%.^1,3
 
“After extensive clinical experience with this material in knee and shoulder implants, along with years of laboratory testing, I expect improved patient outcomes through increased polyethylene longevity. This builds on the STAR Ankle long-term metal-component survival rates seen in multiple clinical studies,” stated Dr. Gregory Lundeen, a foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon at Reno Orthopedic Center.
 
Combined with the recent release of STAR Patient Specific Instrumentation (PSI), the STAR+ Experience represents Enovis’ commitment to continuous improvement, aimed at enhancing patient satisfaction and outcomes. The integration of e+ Polyethylene in the STAR Ankle continues to enhance the success of this implant, which has been used globally over 40,000 times in its 37-year history.⁴
 
Enovis Corporation develops clinically differentiated solutions that generate better patient outcomes and transform workflows. The company’s range of products, services, and integrated technologies fuels active lifestyles in orthopedics and beyond. 

Lundeen is an Enovis Corporation consultant.
 
References
¹ e+ testing data on file. Bench test results not necessarily indicative of clinical performance.
² Jennings et al. The influence of femoral condylar lift-off on the wear of artificial knee joints. Proc Inst Mech Eng [H]. 2007 Apr;221(3):305-14.
³ S.M. Kurtz. “The UHMWPE Handbook: Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene in Total Joint Replacement”. Elsevier Academic Press, 2009.
⁴ Enovis internal document: Includes world-wide implantations of all generations; newest generation has over 40,000 world-wide from 1998-2022