US-based Intelivation Technologies has launched its Hammerdesis interphalangeal fusion system designed to aid doctors who specialise in foot and ankle surgery.

The device fuses the interphalangeal joints, which are between the bones of the toes. This fusion can be used to address conditions such as arthritis, or deformities in the toes such as hammertoe, providing stability for patients experiencing discomfort or difficulty with movement in their feet.

Hammertoe is a foot deformity where one or more of the toes bend abnormally in the middle joint, resembling a hammer. Surgery is sometimes required to correct the deformity.

The launch of Hammerdesis follows its clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2023.

In the announcement accompanying the launch, Intelivation CEO Rob Anderson said: “Our team is excited to launch the Hammerdesis system. We anticipate outstanding clinical results for patients and look forward to analysing the early results from our launch sites. This disruptive technology solves intraoperative challenges for surgeons and represents a giant leap forward for the market.”

According to a report on GlobalData’s Medical Intelligence Center, the orthopaedic devices market was forecasted to reach nearly $50bn last year.

In September 2023, US-based orthopaedic device manufacturer Forma Medical launched the first minimally invasive surgery (MIS) solution for hammertoe, OptimalHT. The system aims to ease the most difficult part of the procedure, guiding wire placement through the three target bones.

In April 2023, medical technology company Enovis entered a definitive agreement for the acquisition of the Novastep business from French surgical devices provider Amplitude Surgical – gaining its foot and ankle solutions portfolio, such as traditional treatments for complex deformities such as hallux valgus, metatarsalgia, and hammertoe.