The Two-Component Implant for Interphalangeal Fusion in Toe Deformities

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Podiatric medicine
• Surgical implant technology

Background:

• Kirschner wire implantation for toe deformities often leads to complications like infection and difficult removal.
• Development of novel implants aims to enhance treatment outcomes and patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a two-component implant for interphalangeal fusion in treating toe deformities.
• To assess clinical outcomes using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) forefoot score.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective evaluation of 31 toes in 21 patients treated with a two-component implant for toe deformities.
• Clinical assessment using AOFAS forefoot scores pre- and post-operatively.
• Analysis of complications and surgical parameters.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in AOFAS forefoot scores from an average of 42.76 preoperatively to 88.76 postoperatively (P = .03).
• Mean operation duration was 16.4 minutes per toe.
• Low complication rate, including one infection successfully treated, one fissure fracture, and one loose locking mechanism that was revised non-operatively. No cases of cutout, malalignment, recurrence, or persistent swelling were observed.

Conclusions:

• Arthrodesis using the two-component implant is a safe and reliable procedure for toe deformities.
• This implant shows particular promise for treating hammer toe and fifth toe deformities.