Arthrosurface Inc. Begins Distribution of Ankle Resurfacing System in Europe

“Metallic implantation with the HemiCAP system offers a promising new solution for those patients who have failed their primary treatment,” said Dr. C. Niek van Dijk, a professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam. “For these young and active patients it is important to restore the damaged area in order to protect the underlying bone and prevent further cyst formation. I am very encouraged by our clinical results over the last four years.”

Focal defects of the talar dome are often caused by trauma and result in deep, cup-shaped lesions. This incongruity of the joint surface and resulting cartilage damage often alters contact stresses in the ankle joint and can likely lead to development of painful cysts deep within the bone. As pain sensing nerves exist in the bone, it is these cysts and fluid pressure on areas of exposed bone that can cause significant pain and debilitation.

“[The new system] allows surgeons to restore the damaged surface of the talar dome by reproducing three surfaces with one implant, namely the dome, ridge and medial wall,” said Dr. Ned Amendola, professor of Orthopedics and director of Sports Medicine at the University of Iowa. “In our study we showed that the system re-approximates the native geometry of the talar dome providing a load sharing surface to help protect the remaining rim of good cartilage.”

The company reports that previous alternatives available to patients after failing primary treatment were to opt for total ankle replacements or ankle fusions. Each of these options are associated with compromises for the patient as an ankle replacement removes a significant amount of bone and has a higher risk of failure than other joint replacements and fusion permanently eliminates the movement of the ankle joint. The company boasts that the HemiCAP Talus implant gives patients another option that is less invasive, preserves the joint and allows for normal activity.