Journal Publishes Positive Clinical Outcomes for Bacterin’s Osteosponge

The Journal of Foot & Ankle Surgery has published a study titled, “Role of Demineralized Allograft Subchondral Bone in the Treatment of Shoulder Lesions of the Talus: Clinical Results with Two-Year Follow-up.” The study followed the use of Bacterin International Holdings Inc.’s Osteosponge SC in the treatment of medial shoulder lesions of the talus, with positive clinical outcomes at two years post-op. The talus has two ‘shoulders’ which are the outer edges of the talus, a bone in the ankle joint commonly injured as a result of an ankle sprain.

The Osteosponge SC procedure has the potential to address defects associated with subchondral bone pathology, which includes failed microfracture procedures and other treatment modalities. The total estimated US market for knee and ankle microfractures in 2014 is approximately 410,000 procedures. Bacterin is the only company in this market with a product specifically positioned to address repair of the subchondral bone in treating these defects, and has demonstrated clinical evidence to support the unique approach.

“The application of Osteosponge SC for regeneration of subchondral bone in the talus represents yet another proven clinical use of this revolutionary bone graft material,” said Gregory Juda, chief scientific officer for Bacterin. “The simplicity and cost effectiveness of this procedure relative to other available treatment options has the potential to change the way surgeons approach the repair of talar shoulder lesions.”

The article details the successful clinical outcomes of Osteosponge SC to treat medial shoulder lesions of the talus. The study evaluated a retrospective review of 12 adults who had previously failed microfracture, presented with defects of the talus, and underwent a malleolar osteotomy with the use of Osteosponge SC allograft. The results demonstrated statistically significant improvements in pain and disability observed postoperatively within the patient series at 24 months. The one-year post-operative results of this study were published earlier this year in the journal Foot & Ankle Specialist, titled “The Role of Demineralized Allograft Subchondral Bone in the Treatement of Talar Cystic OCD Lesions That Have Failed Microfracture.” Osteosponge SC is approved as a bone void filler to treat bony defects in the subchondral region of articulating joints.

Based in Belgrade, Mont., Bacterin makes bone graft material and coatings for medical applications.