Last week, Dr. Patrick Maloney of the Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland Care Center performed the first toe implant in the state of Maryland at the University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute (UMROI). Using Cartiva, Inc.'s Cartiva Synthetic Cartilage Implant (SCI), the treatment received Premarket Approval from the FDA in 2016. It has been widely used in Canada, Europe and Brazil since 2002.

Cartiva SCI was created to treat arthritis in the big toe, the most common arthritic condition in the foot. If ignored, arthritis can cause pain in other areas of the foot, sometimes leading to chronic conditions in other appendages.  

This is an exciting innovation that allows physicians to offer a new treatment option other than fusions, which often lead to loss of range of motion. The surgery takes about 35 minutes, during which a small implant replaces damaged cartilage. The implant has physical properties similar to cartilage, so there is a low risk of rejection. Patients are able to walk in fracture boots immediately, eliminating pain without sacrificing range of motion. In contrast, recovery time for a big toe bone fusion is typically 4-6 weeks. The treatment allows patients to continue pursuing any athletic endeavor.