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Smart Toe is a memory implant used in arthroplasty procedures to correct hammer toe, claw toe and mallet toe deformities. Available in the U.S. since 2007, the implant provides orthopedics and podiatric surgeons a new treatment option because it corrects the failure and implantation problems associated with K-wires and previous generations of implants, delivering highly positive outcomes with faster healing and few complications. == Hammer Toe Surgical Options == The goal of corrective hammer toe surgery is to straighten and align the afflicted toe, ensuring the bones fuse in the right position. Different procedures to straighten the toe and allow for natural flexibility may involve cutting or re-aligning tendons, re-balancing muscle, and/or removing small portions of bone. When bone is removed, the repaired bones may be: * Temporarily fixed in place with a pin or K-wire during healing * Fused together with screws or an implant The most common device used in the surgical correction of hammer toes is the K-wire. After bone has been removed and the toe has been re-aligned, the wire is inserted through the open end of the afflicted toe to hold the joint in place and stabilize it. The wire stays in place for up to six weeks during the healing process. K-wires can be painful, uncomfortable and prone to infection. Because the wound is open, K-wires can lead to "pin tract" infection requiring additional treatment and further complicating the recovery period. Another concern is that K-wires affect all the bones of the corrected toe (even if only the second and third joints require treatment). Implants are an alternative to K-wires. Previous generation implants are two pieces that must be "coupled" during surgery. These can be awkward to connect and they also run the risk of disconnecting or even rotating in place, sometimes making a second surgery necessary. In comparison to K-wires and other implant designs, the SmartToe implant is completely internal; stabilization does not require the use of an external wire as the toe heals. Its "memory" capability helps compress the joint into its proper shape, encouraging rapid fusion. Its one-piece design doesn’t interfere with nearby healthy joints, and, it resists rotation problems common to other surgeries 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「SmartToe」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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