Hexagonal Fixation Device Simplifies Extremity Deformity Correction

An innovative hexapod fixation device eliminates difficult strut exchanges with a strut assembly design that can extend to 300mm in length.

The AMDT Holdings (Collierville, TN, USA) SixFix hexapod device introduces a unique design in which the six struts are pre-assembled into one compact unit that unfolds to easily connect to fixation rings, eliminating difficult strut exchanges and providing a full range of lengths with a single strut design. The unique strut assembly also provides for greater patient comfort and enables the device to be sterile packaged for ease of use, convenient storage, and efficient portability for diverse case scenarios.

The Hexapod is supplied with the SixFix system, a deformity analysis and correction software designed to reduce the time and effort involved in the manual input and analysis of the deformity measurement values required in order to build a prescription plan of the daily adjustments needed to the spatial frame fixator over a period of weeks or months. Using six proprietary radiopaque fiducial markers attached to the rings of a spatial frame external fixator, and inputting spatial frame characteristics – ring diameter, strut length, and axial rotation – into SixFix software, a precise three-dimensional (3-D) replica of the frame and the deformity can be generated.

The data is then used to graphically map the deformity with line segments that define the axes of the bone fragments. The SixFix software also offers options to specify waypoints, customized treatment milestones that the surgeon uses to set the order and duration of each correction. The combination of the Hexapod device and SixFix software dramatically reduce the time and effort required to generate a prescription detailing the strut adjustments necessary to ultimately correct a deformity.

“While the SixFix software alone represents significant improvements and advantages in ease-of-use to the surgeon, these major benefits will be compounded with the introduction of the truly innovative SixFix hexapod,” said Patrick Mullaney, President and CEO of AMDT. “While we are confident the SixFix innovations will be widely appreciated and accepted by surgeons, we are most excited about the potential positive impact we will have on the patient experience.”

“Current devices require a great deal of time and manual effort during my clinic hours to measure and record the data necessary to describe the frame and the deformity as represented by their radiographs,” said orthopedic surgeon Stephen Frania, DPM. “I bring these patients in weekly to evaluate the progress of their correction. The time I will save and the improved accuracy when using the SixFix device and software can be significant over these repeat visits.”

Spatial frame fixators usually consist of two rings connected by six adjustable connectors called struts. This type of construct can also be referred to as a hexapod. Fixation elements connect the rings to bone fragments; small, simultaneous changes in the lengths of multiple struts alter the alignment of the bone fragments in relation to one another. A prescription consisting of daily adjustments is used to realign or correct the misalignments, resulting is a corrected deformity and a healed fracture.

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