Grant: Proof of Principle Program - Phase II

This project involves the invention of a new surgical implant system for the fixation of fractures in curved bones. It is called Minimally Invasive Curved Intramedullary Fixation (MICIF). Prior to this invention it was possible to place an implant in the intramedullary (interior) part of straight long bones such as the femur and tibia but not into curved bones. This implant can be placed inside a curved bone and is being developed specifically for the fixation of fractures of the pelvic bones and the hip socket. In younger people, fractures of the pelvis and hip socket occur from violent trauma such as motor vehicle accidents. Older people with weaker bones can experience fractures from simple falls. Most of the fractures in young people are treated with operations involving the use of steel implants to hold the bones together. All current methods have problems. Some are too invasive and cause significant surgical trauma to the patient, others are minimally invasive but provide less stability to the fracture fragments, potentially allowing the bone fragments to move after the operation. The curved implant that we are developing can fit the natural contours of the inside of the bone and can be longer, of a greater diameter, and stronger than current implants. There are many thousands of patients in the developed world who are treated each year for these fractures. As countries with large populations (e.g. China) experience economic growth and vehicles on their roads increase in speed and size, the incidence of these fractures and the ability to afford surgical treatment will grow. Older people with these injuries are often treated non-operatively but can have complications related to hospitalization and bed rest. Our hope is that with our minimally invasive strong and stable device, it will be possible to perform a relatively painless, minor operation to get them up in a short time. The morbidity of these patients and the associated health care costs will decreas