Ask a patient what they want from a fixation implant, and the answer is almost always the same: they want it to work and to stop thinking about it. The challenge with permanent metal hardware is that it does not always allow for the second part. Metal implants stay in the body indefinitely, and in roughly one in four cases of foot and ankle surgery, they require a second procedure to remove them. Data on file at OSSIO.
OSSIO was founded in 2014 with a specific goal: to replace metal as the standard of care in orthopedic fixation. The technology they developed to do it, OSSIOfiber Bio-Integrative Implant Technology, does something no metal implant can. It gradually becomes bone.
How OSSIOfiber works differently from every other fixation material
OSSIOfiber is not bioresorbable. That distinction matters. Conventional bioresorbable implants break down over time but do not integrate meaningfully with bone, and they carry documented risks of adverse inflammation, foreign body reaction, and cyst formation during degradation. OSSIOfiber takes a fundamentally different path.
The material combines a continuous natural mineral fiber matrix with a PLDLA mixture. The mineral fibers are the same natural minerals found in bone. When implanted, OSSIOfiber begins a gradual bio-integration process: early bone attachment is seen in as little as two weeks post-surgery, followed by progressive tissue ingrowth and incorporation until the implant is completely replaced by healthy bone. According to pre-clinical studies, full integration is complete in roughly 78 to 104 weeks. Data on file at OSSIO. Nothing permanent is left behind.
OSSIO describes the result as stronger than cortical bone, stronger and more predictable than polymers alone, and without the foreign body reactions, stress-shielding, or removal risks commonly associated with permanent metal hardware.
The product range: foot, ankle, and beyond
OSSIOfiber is commercially available in the United States and FDA 510(k) cleared. The current product range spans compression screws, compression staples, trimmable fixation nails, hammertoe fixation systems, and suture anchors. Clinical applications cover foot and ankle procedures, including bunion correction, hammertoe repair, and arthrodesis, as well as hand and wrist surgery and sports medicine applications, including the Brostrom repair.
The OSSIOfiber Compression Screw is indicated for maintenance of alignment and fixation of bone fractures, comminuted fractures, fragments, osteotomies, arthrodesis, and bone grafts of the upper extremity, fibula, knee, ankle, and foot. It delivers superior performance to conventional metal screws in vitro initial compression strength testing and in vitro pull-out strength testing of the 3.5x26mm format. Data on file at OSSIO.
A recent clinical study reported that 100% of hammertoe patients treated with OSSIOfiber were satisfied and would recommend it to others. Data on file at OSSIO. The implant works with existing reimbursement codes and surgical techniques, which means adoption does not require a complete change in how a surgeon operates.
What this means for surgeons considering OSSIOfiber
The practical value for surgeons is threefold. First, it eliminates the clinical conversation about hardware removal before surgery begins. Second, it provides MRI-safe, artifact-free imaging on both CT and X-ray throughout the healing process, giving surgeons a clear view of bone healing without obstruction. Third, it addresses metal sensitivity directly. Approximately one in four people have metals removed in a second operation, and metal allergy is a documented concern in orthopedic practice. OSSIOfiber provides a nickel-free solution with no permanent hardware remaining.
Synchrocare distributes OSSIO products as part of its national specialty medical device portfolio, supporting surgeons and healthcare facilities through trained medical sales consultants and ongoing clinical resources.
To learn more about OSSIO products available through Synchrocare, visit www.synchrocare.com.