Issue Date: April 1, 2022
ANNOUNCEMENTS

While it may be April Fool’s Day, this is no joke... FAN has a handful of new product launches to report on which include a Radiolucent Frame, a Rotational Lapidus Jig as well as a line extension from the team at Ossio. In addition, we take a look at a company we discovered at AAOS that has a chance to significantly disrupt the arthroscopy game forever.
As always, we are very grateful for all of our FAN’s. Thanks you very much for reading and continue to contact us anytime at footandanklenews@gmail.com

Have a great day,

Big Foot
This week we have:

  • Golden Sawbone of the Week - Social Media

  • New Product Announcements: Fusion Orthopedics | Orothofix | Ossio

  • Little Guys, Big Ideas: Lazurite

  • Access Past FAN Newsletters

  • PodiatryMeetings.com Calendar of Events

  • AOFAS Meetings Updated Listing
GOLDEN SAWBONE OF THE WEEK
Social Media Edition
Following all the orthopedic innovation we saw last week at AAOS, we decided to give this week’s award to a surgeon who thinks outside the box. He is a master of deformity correction and limb lengthening, a thought leader in osseointegration procedures, and a believer in ankle distraction arthroplasty. Operating out of HSS, congrats to this week’s winner:

Congrats to:
Robert Rozbruch, MD


Our featured post looks at a patient with a below knee amputation that is 5 months post single stage osseointegration limb replacement surgery getting ready to return to full duty. Osseointegration is an insane technology that is changing lives.

Check it out HERE and have fun reviewing the rest of his profile, crazy stuff!  
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NEW PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Fusion Orthopedics - Lapilock

I read in a book a while back about “David vs Goliath” marketing strategies. The concept is designed to pit relatively unknown newcomers against established powerhouses. This strategy, if used correctly, can bring attention to the company no matter how out-gunned they may seem to be. So, I will bite, and preview the war that Fusion has just engaged in with Treace Medical.

This week Fusion announced it is going head-to-head with Lapiplasty by offering a better mouse trap than the Treace system, the Lapilock 4D Bunion System.
Notable reasons for Fusion doubling down on its LapiLock 4D Bunion System include:

  1. Direct consumer education to generate leads at lapilockbunionsurgery.com
  2. Flexibility in pricing to address unmet market demand;
  3. Surgeon’s choice of over 13 options for fixation;
  4. Counter pressure will never break a patient’s second metatarsal;
  5. Minimal bone resection to better maintain first metatarsal length;
  6. Adjustability of dorsal flex or plantar flex of the first metatarsal;
  7. Fulcrum-less surgical technique; and
  8.  Single jig for all steps to eliminate risk/loss of correction.

The full press release from Fusion can be found here PRESS RELEASE

So let’s review the facts. Treace is suing Fusion for patent infringement. Treace, after going public, is now focusing on creating its own W2 sales force to build a more profitable and potentially more stable company around. Fusion, a self-proclaimed “rep-centric” company, is looking to appeal to those distribution partners who perhaps are being slighted by Treace, with this alternative Lapilock product. We all know that everyone in the F&A space is gunning for this rotational bunion market that Treace created. Stryker, Crossroads (now J&J), Nextremity, and a long line of soon to be released projects by many of the major F&A players will be coming. Lapilock is not unique, but the strategy to get it to market makes it different in that independents have a new option to get behind and sell. 

Fusion and Treace were both founded in 2014. Treace has a 1-billion-dollar market cap and Fusion does not. Treace has been able to grow into a massive company through innovation and genius marketing tactics. Fusion, is taking a different path which is admirable, to try and develop itself as a known entity in the foot and ankle world with some technology they believe is superior to what is out there now. Whether Treace will be able to sustain and grow past a one product company is still yet to be determined but based on their track record I think we can assume they have a strong pipeline to move them forward. Good for Fusion for picking a fight, it makes things somewhat interesting for all of us, even if their legal team may think otherwise. I guess we will see if they can answer the bell. Good luck!

P.S. – I am very tired of the “LAPI” moniker used for these rotational products. Attention marketing directors and teams…please use something else for your future Lapidus product launches. Carry on.
Orthofix - TrueLok EVO Ring Fixation System


Orthofix is often times under the radar when it comes to Foot and Ankle, in fact this may be the first time we have featured any of their products. They have long been known for their frame technology and it is appropriate that we feature them in this newsletter with an introduction to their new radiolucent ring fixation system.
Designed for complex limb reconstruction and deformity correction procedures, the TrueLok EVO system is the only circular fixator on the market that features both radiolucent rings and struts to enable clear radiographic visualization. This innovative design allows physicians to better assess bone anatomy both during surgery and post-operative care. The TrueLok EVO system is also the first circular external fixation kit available as a preassembled frame in ready-to-use single use sterile packaging, allowing for ease of application and potential time-saving during surgery, particularly when treating post-traumatic injuries.


Orthofix is mainly a distributor-based company and frames are big money, especially when paired with their biologic super star, Trinity Elite. In addition to those products, they have a very solid TTC nail and a few other products dedicated to Complex Charcot and Hindfoot Reconstruction. Don’t sleep on Orthofix, here is a link to their product page if you care to dive deeper.
Ossio


This week Ossio announced FDA clearance for 3 new product releases coming within the next two quarters. 

They are:
4.75 & 5.5 Suture Anchors (expected Q2 2022 Launch)

Interesting size choice for a company focusing on foot and ankle. These sizes are most commonly used to address Haglund's deformity in F&A, so maybe a competitor to the Arthrex Speed Bridge is in the works? No word on suture versus tape for the anchors, a 3.0 or 3.5 will be needed to compete for the majority of lateral ankle cases. Starting with this size may indicate that they are trying to appeal to a suitor looking for a technology platform that can perform in the more lucrative shoulder market?

Compression Staple (expected Q3 2022 Launch)

Nitinol Staples are now considered the gold standard in staple fixation and have a wide scope of utility in foot and ankle. Offering a bio-absorbable staple, is very unique and VAC approval friendly. Without seeing the product, it is hard to see the value without understanding the mechanism of compression the device will have. This will be one to watch.

3.5 Cannulated Screws (expected Q3 2022 Launch)

Expanding their screw sizes, down to a 3.5 will help to address the distal bunion market and drive increased use from current users and open a new avenue for those who have used the excuse the 4.0 is too large for many foot and ankle indications. The screws will be available in lengths of 14mm to 50mm.

We have covered Ossio extensively over the last few months, 3 new product launches is very impressive and needed for continued growth. If the technology of the products (staples and anchors) can match the technology of the material, Ossio will be well on its way to acquisition.
 
Link to the full press release can be found here: PRESS RELEASE
‌
LITTLE GUYS, BIG IDEAS
Lazurite

FAN was in Chicago last week for AAOS and it was a true spectacle of orthopedic gluttony. Being that Foot and Ankle is the Red-Headed-Stepchild of Orthopedic Specialties, there was not a ton of action on the foot and ankle side. The focus of the show was large joint arthroplasty’s tie into robotics and VR/AR applications. One company did jump out at me that will potentially have a major impact on the foot and ankle arthroscopy side of thing – the ARTHRO FREE WIRELES SCOPE from Lazurite.
VALUE

  • The ArthroFree wireless camera is equipped with Meridiem™ light technology (MLT) and requires a mere fraction of the energy of conventional camera systems: 4W vs. 300W. That’s about 1%.

  • The ArthroFree System is designed to simplify sterilization, decrease set-up and take-down times, and eliminate components from the surgical tower.
FREEDOM

  • The ArthroFree System eliminates the hazards of fiber-optic cables—as well as the stress of cable management.

  • Our FCC-approved wireless protocol delivers a reliable military-grade connection, as well as top-notch security for patient data.
COMPATIBILITY

  • The ArthroFree receiver is drop-in compatible with patient data consoles and surgical monitors.

  • The ArthroFree wireless camera handset features C-mount endoscope compatibility.

Last Wednesday evening, the team from Lazurite received word that their Arthro Free Wireless Scope had received FDA Clearance. The Arthro Free Scope has won numerous awards and is the brainchild of Eugene Malinskiy. The idea of a wireless scope makes total sense, however replacing an entire video system and competing with the arthroscopy big boys would be a daunting task for any company. The fact that it is compatible with the video and scopes of the major market share companies make this plug and play hand piece solution a no brainer. Congrats and Good Luck to the Lazurite team!
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CONTINUING EDUCATION
PodiatryMeetings.com Calendar

Looking for a meeting?
This resource has an extensive amount of information for meeting opportunities where you can earn your required continuing education credits.

Click below to access the extensive meeting calendar.
AOFAS Upcoming Meetings & Courses
April 14, 2022 | 8-9:30pm EST

July 7-9, 2022

September 14-17, 2022 | Québec City, Canada
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Foot and Ankle News is curated roundup of the most impactful news for Foot and Ankle Doctors, Rep’s, and Exec’s delivered weekly directly to your inbox.

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All of our posts from our weekly email newsletter can be found at www.footandanklenews.com. Our newsletter goes out to over 12,000 foot and ankle surgeons and industry professionals across the country. The articles are created by a group of volunteers and freelance industry insiders. If you you would like to contact us or have an article or topic you would like to share, please submit it to: footandanklenews@gmail.com