(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Surgeons at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center performed the first surgery in the U.S. to implant a device designed to relieve knee pain and help patients with osteoarthritis prevent or delay knee replacements. For the millions who suffer with the daily pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis, treatments to slow the progression of the disease are limited, but the Calypso Knee System may offer a new option. A clinical trial is examining the device’s ability to extend the life of the joint, while allowing patients to remain active without knee pain.
“It works like a shock absorber to take pressure off the inside of the knee while creating a cushion similar to what cartilage provides in a healthy joint,” said Dr. David Flanigan, orthopedic surgeon at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center who performed the surgery. “The hope is that it increases joint functionality, reduces pain and delays a total knee arthroplasty for years or even decades.”
Developed by Moximed, Inc., the Calypso Knee System treats osteoarthritis in the inner knee, the most commonly affected area. It is designed to provide support outside of the knee joint without altering the anatomy or removing any tissue from the knee itself. “We’re hoping that this will be an opportunity for patients with osteoarthritis to remain active without pain for a much longer period of time,” said Flanigan.
If the trial is successful, Dr. Flanigan expects the Calypso Knee System will soon be available to patients across the country. More than 700,000 knee replacement surgeries are performed in the U.S. every year, a number that continues to grow. Flanigan says the device could help reverse that trend, helping more people avoid joint replacements and preserve their knees.
