| As medical devices advance in technology the general | | | | ACL surgery. |
| public is at times used as guinea pigs. Even though | | | | The Calaxo Bone Screw is used to help secure grafts |
| we have the FDA on our side, there are many | | | | in the ACL. The primary feature of this product is |
| devices on the market that may not have gone | | | | that it doesn’t need to be removed. The screw |
| through proper testing. | | | | simply dissolves into the surrounding tissue. The |
| Let’s take a look at a fairly new knee surgery | | | | average time frame for it to dissolve is |
| product from Smith & Nephew’s Endoscopy | | | | approximately 12 months. |
| Division, marketed and known as the Calaxo | | | | This product also contains chemicals that according to |
| Osteoconductive Interference Screw. This is also | | | | the manufacturer “Our CALAXO |
| commonly called the Calaxo Bone Screw. | | | | Osteoconductive Interference Screw is formulated |
| This product is used for ACL reconstruction. ACL | | | | with chemicals that stimulate the bone surface within |
| tears and associated injuries are common in athletes | | | | the tunnel and trigger the development of new bone, |
| and non-athletes. Anyone who runs, bikes, play tennis | | | | which over time replaces the implant. It's preferable |
| or organized sports may encounter ACL injuries. 80% | | | | to restore the bone tissue that has been removed |
| of ACL injuries are from non-contact, meaning that | | | | to make way for the graft. CALAXO makes this |
| the person may have injured themselves simply by | | | | possible.” |
| standing, turning or landing wrong. Typical response | | | | Problems associated with the Calaxo Bone Screw are |
| from the injured is “my knee just gave out”. | | | | numerous. It is possible that bone may grow over |
| When a ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear | | | | the screw which may interfere in the healing of the |
| happens the tendon on top of the knee is separated | | | | ACL. Other problems include swelling of the knee |
| from the knee bone. Surgery is a common fix yet | | | | joint, persistent pain in the knee area. |
| ACL tears do not necessarily require surgery. The | | | | These side effects and problems were noted by |
| medical community is currently debating whether or | | | | Smith & Nephew and they issued a recall of the |
| not to do invasive surgery. | | | | device. Not only did Smith & Nephew take |
| The associated risks of ACL surgery include infection, | | | | action, but the legal community also took issue with |
| pain in the knee area, persistent instability, stiffness | | | | the device and we’re now seeing a host of law |
| of the knee joint, and difficulty returning to a | | | | firms investigating the issues and injuries linked to this |
| previous level of activity. Current estimates show | | | | medical device. There may be a potentially large |
| that 90% of patients have no complications with | | | | class action lawsuit in the immediate future. |