IOFix™ with plate construct is similar to locking plate construct for Lapidus bunionectomy procedure outcomes

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Foot and Ankle Surgery
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• The Lapidus bunionectomy has seen advancements in fixation techniques to minimize complications like non-union and hardware issues.
• The IOFix™ intramedullary system is a novel device designed to improve stability and compression during bunion repair.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of the Lapidus bunionectomy using the IOFix™ system versus a traditional medial locking plate with a plantar lag screw.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective case-control study of 46 patients (23 per group) with a minimum 24-month follow-up.
• Comparison of outcomes including non-union rates, hardware removal, loss of correction, and AOFAS Hallux scores.
• Statistical analysis using t-tests and Fisher's exact test with P < 0.05 significance.

Main Results:

• Both IOFix™ and traditional plate fixation achieved 100% union rates with no infections or revision surgeries.
• No significant difference in hardware removal rates (26% vs 13%) or loss of correction between groups.
• Significant improvement in AOFAS Hallux scores in both groups post-operatively, with no inter-group difference.

Conclusions:

• The IOFix™ system with a dorsal plate demonstrates comparable efficacy to traditional locking plate fixation for Lapidus bunionectomy.
• IOFix™ is a viable alternative fixation method, offering similar union rates, clinical outcomes, and complication profiles.
• Further research with larger cohorts and extended follow-up is recommended to validate these findings.