Original ResearchSmartToe® Implant Compared with Kirschner Wire Fixation for Hammer Digit Corrective Surgery: A Review of 28 Patients
Section snippets
Patients and Methods
This clinical evaluation consisted of 28 patients, analyzed retrospectively after surgical correction of a hammer digit deformity of the PIPJ requiring end-to-end arthrodesis. We assessed 15 patients who received K-wire fixation and compared them with 13 patients who were fixated with the SmartToe®. Each patient was evaluated by the respective surgeon (A.K.A., M.J.B., or D.S.), determined to have a hammer digit deformity with the apex of the deformity at the PIPJ, and determined to be a
Results
The primary outcome measure was pain associated with each fixation technique. At baseline, both arms exhibited very similar VAS levels, with mean ± standard deviation for the K-wire arm of 7 ± 1.60 and 6.83 ± 1.34 for the SmartToe® arm (p > .05). As the successive postoperative visits progressed, the K-wire arm demonstrated consistently higher VAS levels compared with the SmartToe® arm. Fig. 2 demonstrates the progression of pain relief in each arm of the study. After 6 months follow-up, the
Discussion
The data noted earlier lead to an interesting discussion regarding fixation for PIPJ arthrodesis in hammer toe surgery. Schrier et al, in a unique evaluation in The Netherlands, studied methodology and treatment protocols for lesser toe deformities in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Isala Clinics. They concluded that there was absolutely no consensus regarding definitions, treatment protocol, or strategies when addressing lesser toe deformities, which led to a
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Cited by (32)
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Lesser Digit Implants
2019, Clinics in Podiatric Medicine and SurgeryCitation Excerpt :In a smaller retrospective study, 28 patients were followed for 6 months after hammertoe correction using a K-wire or memory Nitinol implant. The memory Nitinol implant fixation was reported to outperform the K-wire stabilization.21 A prospective study of 60 digital surgeries using the memory Nitinol implant showed an 85% rate of union with only 1 digital implant failure caused by dislocation of the device.22
Digital Arthrodesis of the Lesser Toes
2017, Clinics in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery
Financial Disclosure: This study was funded with a research grant by MMI-USA, now part of Stryker Foot and Ankle.
Conflict of Interest: None reported.