Advantages of the Smart Toe Implant

The Smart Toe Implant

Traditional K--wire fixation

 

 

Surgery using the Smart Toe implant may be recommended by your surgeon if the hammertoe or other deformity has become rigid. Below are more details about the advantages of this new implant:

• Compressive feature speeds joint fusion: Due to its design, the Smart Toe implant allows for constant compression, rigid internal fixation, and resistance to rotation. Read about NiTinol memory metal
  
  Fusion can be more difficult and less reliable with K-wire fixation, which does not provide any compression and can allow the repaired bones to twist or rotate during healing.
• No healthy joint disruption: Because the Smart Toe is completely internal and precisely placed, nearby bone is not affected. Other surgeries using screws or wires can damage otherwise healthy bone.
• No post-operative (after surgery) implant exposure: Some surgical solutions rely on a pin or K-wire to hold the toe bones in place for up to six weeks, while the natural fusion process takes place.  These K-wires must be inserted through the tip of the toe and down the center of the bones to be fused… and any other bone that comes before them.  During the healing process, these wires extend out the end of the toe.  This can very uncomfortable and the open wound can lead to “pin tract” infection, requiring additional treatment and further complicating your recovery period.
• Less pain and inconvenience during healing: Initial results of scientific studies in progress in 2008 and 2009 show that patients with the Smart Toe implant experience significantly less pain during recovery compared with surgery using a K-wire.
• One-piece implant (no “connection” required): Some hammertoe implants are two-pieces that must be "coupled" during surgery.  These can be awkward to connect and also run the risk of disconnecting or even rotating in place.
• Shape resists rotation: The Smart Toe implant’s flat, lateral design resists rotation that may occur with K-wire and other cylindrical solutions.  Unplanned rotation can complicate the healing/fusion of the bone.
• Fewer complications after surgery: Surgeons report fewer complications from the joint not fusing, rotating into the wrong position, and infection common to exposed K-wire stabilization.

We hope this web site has provided helpful information to discuss with your surgeon.
We also have a printable PDF. You can print it or forward it directly to your physician.