DJO Completes First Implantation of Hip Replacement in Patient

Vista, Calif.-based DJO Global Inc.’s Taperfill total hip replacement (THR) has been implanted in its first patient. The system was developed to accommodate a minimally invasive approach to hip replacements. Although Taperfill was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in June, it will not be commercialized until the end of the year, said company officials.

The Taperfill hip stem has a tapered wedge designed to protect against shifting of the implant, an issue that can hinder surgeons from using certain bone-preserving THRs. According to DJO, the system’s metaphyseal fill and biological fixation allows for implant longevity. Taperfill is coated with P2, a porous coating manufactured by DJO made of titanium, designed for bone and other tissue to bond with the implant.

“Today’s total hip patients have generally been very active and thus have replacement surgery at a younger age than in years past,” said Bryan Monroe, senior vice president and general manager of DJO Surgical. “These younger patients expect to return to an active life following implantation. This evolution in implant design is well suited for a minimally invasive approach by the surgeon to facilitate the patient’s return to normal activity.”

Taperfill can be used in any chosen surgical approach. However, DJO designers shortened the femoral stem implant to improve maneuverability specifically for tissue sparing and bone preserving surgical techniques. The company is pairing the Taperfill hip with a best-in-class training program for the direct anterior approach in THR. According to studies presented at the Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society in years past, this approach has been shown to improve rehabilitation and reduce the risk of dislocation.

“The stem’s shortened length and shape allowed it to be inserted with minimal tissue trauma, unlike the other currently available tissue sparing designs,” said Richard Reitman, M.D., of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Plano, Texas. “The Taperfill stem engages substantially more proximal bone, which gives me the confidence to allow my patients to immediately bear weight and return to normal activity.”

Reitman is co-designer of the implant and was the surgeon who implanted the first device in a patient.

DJO makes musculoskeletal, vascular and pain management medical devices.