Cartiva - Has anyone had it?

Its all about coding. Cartiva is not investigational. It has been approved by FDA as long as you meet the criteria for Cartiva implant. There are some other synthetic cartilidge implants being used for MTP as a total replacement that have I think been taken off market due to high rate of failure and complications.

I think you are correct about that coding.  

I have been wondering about others recovery when having the cartiva in addition to the ostemotomy.  I assume most of us have bone spurs.  The osteotomy adds to the recovery. I wonder about that as well as its effect on the cartiva itself.  

I have no idea. You might get more information on cartiva facebook page. I think there a few people that posted they have had all 3. I would think most people having cartiva do have a bone spur unless they had previous cheilectomy to remove it.

 

Thanks.  I haven't evenseeen the Facebook page. Good idea. Their website says if you have had a prior chielectomy it is contraindicated.   Maybe the one they do at the same time is less destructive.  

Hi Abbe. How are you feeling?

I had a cartiva and a cheilectomy which necessated a bone graft from the top of my right foot 5 days ago. The condition of the toe joint did not show on scans. Surgeon had to make a couple if quick decisions. Told me after.

Hi Starting week 5.  Very very stiff and swollen. I am walking in the boot only. I cannot step on the joint area without the boot on. I go to PT twice a week. I am hoping when swelling goes down it will be better. I am not looking to have a major bend but some movement and less stiffness and swelling would be good at this point.

had you just had xrays done prior to surgery? Was this your first foot surgery or had you had something before. Why did they need to do a bone graft?

Is PT helping your foot? Hope it is better.

Who was your physician 

Google it. It has only been around in the UK and Canada for 10 years. That is the success rate thus far.  I am walking 3 miles again. I am 8 weeks post op.

Thank you so much.  That is really helpful.  May I ask, how old are you?  And how long did you have hallux rigidus prior to .the surgery.

I'm 66 and I waited until I was eligible for Medicare to get the surgeries.  My pain started at least 20 years ago, and then rapidly worsened about 4 years ago.  THAT pain is gone now, but I do have soft tissue pain around the area due to placing my weight on the outside of my feet for so many years.  My concern is that the results a younger person experienced might not be indicative of the results that I would see as a result of postponing the original cheilectomies for so long.

I am 62. I suffered with this for10 years getting injections in that toe every few months. Finally the injections stopped working. This was my last resort before fusion. 

I'm in the UK and had the implant surgery just over a year ago. It has only been available here in the U.K. for a short time - certainly no more than 5 years, and it still is not widely available, with only a small number of specialist surgeons  / hospitals  carrying out the surgery. 

My doctor gave me handouts showing the surgery has been in UK and Canada for almost 10 years.  And said use of the implant so far has had a success rate for 8 years.  No one has needed a replacement because it disintegrated.  It has only been approved for use in the US for a little over one year. I have the studies that show otherwise. 

I can't speak for Canada - it may well

Have been available longer there, but certainly in the UK the availability is as I described - It's initial use here was in around 2011 which at that time was for clinical trials - not general use. 

My surgeon went into the studies and their findings at length before I had my surgery as he wanted me to be able to decide whether it was the right decision based on available evidence, and while he did feel it was appropriate for me he emphasised that long term data was not yet available.

 The company that produces the implant worldwide is only publishing 5 years' clinical data on its own website: 

http://www.bio-vation.co.uk/5-year-clinical-data2016.php.

I can't speak for Canada but in the U.K. the implant was first used in about 2011 for clinical trials. It's use here is still limited. 

My surgeon went into a lot of detail about what data was available, and the fact that long term data wasn't yet available before I opted for the surgery so that I could make an informed decision,

The company that produces the implant is currently publishing 5 years' clinical data on its website.

Well, thank you again.  Very, very helpful!