Accufix Surgical gained approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to distribute its Accu-Joint system, a new approach for full restoration of MTP function and motion with no hard bone resecting or weakening. The non-weight bearing implant lets surgical podiatrists to choose joint preservation over joint fusion for their patients. The Accu-Joint is intended to functionally and accurately restore arthritic toe joints, while allowing original anatomic bone structure to remain intact. It is also intended to be implanted with Hallux Valgus correction if that procedure is being performed.
 
The ACcu-Joint system’s two-stage MTP joint reamer removes worn cartilage, smooths bone spurs, and countersinks the toe joint’s hard subchondral bone end, resulting in complete resurfacing for precise implant seating and bone ingrowth, preserving bone anatomy and bone length. At the same time, second-stage blades produce 360-degree clearance around the implant articular edge.
 
The implants also include cancellous threaded, solid stems—not cannulated—to provide rigid fixation and prevent influx of infection into the medullary canal, along with grooves and scalloped edges under the implant’s articular head to allow bone ingrowth for reliable anti-rotation. The stem’s threaded “barrel,”, just beneath the articular surface, transfers all stress forces off the stem and away from the softer medullary canal, into the hard subchondral bone where it is rigidly fixated. The implants are sized smaller than the bone end’s diameter, which together with 4-points of internal rigid fixation, ensures the bone—not the implant—bears the body’s full weight.
 
“As a practicing podiatrist for 36 years, I have been dissatisfied with joint replacement implant options for my patients,” Dr. Glenn C. Vitale, inventor of the Accu-Joint told the press. “I have surgically removed many failed implants and have chosen not to use any of the joint implants that are currently on the market today. We finally have the opportunity to choose true anatomical joint preservation over joint fusion.”