Stryker (NYSE:SYK) announced today that it launched its new Prostep MICA Solo Guide for minimally invasive bunion procedures.
Kalamazoo, Michigan-based Stryker designed the Prostep MICA all-in-one procedure guide for use by a solo surgeon, potentially eliminating the need for additional surgical assistance during a minimally invasive bunion operation.
According to a news release, surgeons have traditionally conducted such procedures using a “freehand” technique that requires both of the surgeon’s hands to perform different tasks simultaneously. Stryker’s newly launched platform acts as a third hand for the surgeon, offering automatic targeting of the screw, stabilization of the head fragment and a controlled, adjustable shift.
Stryker said the Prostep MICA streamlines procedures to allow for reproducibility while minimizing the need for a surgical assistant.
Other features that Stryker’s platform offers when compared to traditional open bunion surgery include faster return to function, less pain, smaller scars, increased patient satisfaction and less need for post-operation opioids, the company said.
“At Stryker, we’re constantly working with our customers to understand their challenges and develop solutions to address unmet needs,” Stryker Foot & Ankle VP of Marketing and Medical Education Michael Rankin said in the release. “The Prostep MICA Solo Guide reflects Stryker’s ongoing commitment to technological innovation, and we see it playing an integral role in the future of minimally invasive foot and ankle surgery.”
