The helical bone screw has been the standard in orthopedic fixation for decades. The design has remained largely unchanged since its early clinical adoption: a threaded shaft that bites into bone as it turns, relying on the friction of that interface for holding strength. It works. But Diamond Orthopedic asked whether it works as well as it could, and built a company around the answer.

Diamond Orthopedic, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is the exclusive provider of faceted threadform technology for orthopedic applications worldwide. The company's premise is straightforward: the geometry of the screw determines the quality of the fixation, and the geometry of the traditional helical screw has room for improvement.

What the faceted threadform actually does differently

The faceted threadform replaces the smooth helical thread with a series of flat facets that interact with bone differently during insertion. According to Diamond Orthopedic, the unique geometry reduces friction during the insertion process and uses the naturally occurring viscoelastic properties of bone to achieve more contact at the bone-screw interface.

The result, based on studies conducted at Orthokinetic Testing Technologies, tested in biological and non-biological test substrates, includes a nearly 50% reduction in insertional torque compared to traditional helical screws, improved purchase at the bone-screw interface, and up to 61% greater pullout strength two weeks after surgery compared to a market-leading helical screw with the same profile. Data on file at Diamond Orthopedic.

For surgeons working in cases where bone quality is compromised, whether due to osteopenia, patient age, or the demands of revision surgery, those numbers represent a meaningful clinical difference. As Dr. Bob Anderson, MD noted about the screws: they are ideal for achieving initial compression and then maintaining the fixation, particularly when dealing with a patient with compromised bone.

The product range: sterile and non-sterile options

Diamond Orthopedic offers its faceted bone screw technology in both sterile and non-sterile formats, addressing the supply chain and preference needs of different surgical environments. The product range includes small screw sets suited to hand surgery, fracture fixation of small bones, and small joint fusions, as well as larger cannulated screw sets indicated for fracture fixation of large bones and large bone fragments, including ankle arthrodesis, femoral neck fractures, tibial plateau fractures, and sacroiliac joint disruptions.

The company is made in the USA and positions itself as the new fixation standard in orthopedics. Synchrocare distributes Diamond Orthopedic products nationwide, supporting appropriate product use through trained medical sales consultants and ongoing clinical support.

What surgeons say

John G. Seiler III, MD, described Diamond Orthopedic's faceted screws as a great innovation in screw design, citing the reduced torque of insertion and size variety as making them a strong choice for both fracture fixation and small joint fusions in the hand. The design's performance in compromised bone has been a consistent theme among surgeons who have used the technology clinically.

To learn more about Diamond Orthopedic products available through Synchrocare, visit www.synchrocare.com.