New Alternative for Treating Hip Fractures

A new technology to treat intertrochanteric hip fractures spares muscle tissue and enhances fixation, even in osteoporotic patients.

The Peak FxT system boasts a unique plate design with a low-profile tapered plate and an instrument design that allows insertion into tissues without undue trauma to surrounding muscles. A lag screw features a blunt nose, plateau-style thread design and a self-tapping feature designed for optimum fixation to the femoral head, addressing the need for stability and fixation, even in osteoporotic patients. The plate can be used with traditional surgical or with minimally invasive techniques. The surgical instruments used with the system have been modified to reduce time and simplify the procedure.

The Peak FxT Hip Plate is available with a controlled-collapse mechanism, a technology that addresses the clinical issue of proximal femoral offset loss and excess collapse, which are typical of traditional hip screw devices. The lag-screw assembly also reduces the risk of implant disassociation in both the medial and lateral directions. Another feature is an integrated keying mechanism that provides the option of rotationally locking the lag screw without sacrificing tip-apex distance or final plate placement, which may simplify the surgical technique. ThePeak FxT system is a product of DePuy Orthopaedics (Warsaw, IN, USA).

"Given how much a hip fracture affects a patient's life, our goal with this new technology is to repair the fracture while sparing the surrounding tissues as much as possible to leave the muscles as strong as they can be to support optimum recovery and rehabilitation, said Richard Kyle, M.D., director of orthopedics at Hennepin County medical center (Minneapolis, MN, USA). "By sparing more of the crucial tissues and vessels near the fracture, the new system provides surgeons with a modern alternative to nails and other devices.”


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DePuy Orthopaedics