Before the 1970s, patients with severe arthritis of the shoulder or complicated proximal humerus fractures were likely doomed to a lifetime of immobility and pain. Nowadays, replacement of the shoulder with a total shoulder replacement or a hemi-arthroplasty is almost routine. An issue with these procedures is that surgeons have to remove a fair amount of bone to get the implant to fit correctly. If the implant needs to be replaced the revision surgery gets progressively more difficult in proportion to the amount of native bone that has been lost.
It appears that Ascension Orthopedics is aiming to address this problem with their TITAN Modular Total Shoulder System, which recently received FDA approval. The system contains 26 different humeral head options and its stems and glenoid components are fully modular. This theoretically allows the shoulder surgeon to match the implant to the native bone or fracture pattern so that less native bonestock needs to be removed. The system is available in cemented and press-fitted varieties, allowing for even more customization for optimal fit.
More from the press release:
The TITAN Modular Total Shoulder System offers a bone-preserving option for patients needing total or hemi shoulder arthroplasty. The modularity of the system allows the surgeon to independently select distal stems and proximal bodies that best match the patient’s anatomy and bone quality. The system is fully interchangeable – allowing all primary and fracture bodies to be used with either press-fit or cemented stems. There are 26 humeral head sizing options available, which are based on published anthropomorphic data of over 300 human humeri to provide anatomic fit. The system also offers multiple glenoid options for patients needing total shoulder replacement.
Press release: Ascension Orthopedics Receives FDA Approval for TITAN™ Modular Total Shoulder System
Link: Ascension Orthopedics…
