Shark Screw®
the screw made from human bone
Shark Screw® is a screw made from human donor bone and is used in orthopaedics and trauma surgery. Like the body’s own bone, this bone screw undergoes natural, constant bone metabolism and is remodeled within a few weeks or months into new, ideally adapted bone tissue.1,2 There is no need for an operation to remove the metal.2 Metals in the body, on the other hand, entail precisely this risk: in many cases, they have to be removed again during a second operation. Otherwise, they remain in the body with no function.3,4 However, screws made from human bone have far more advantages than the elimination of metal removal.4
Advantages of Shark Screw®
“Shark Screw® is integrated into the natural bone remodeling process of the human body and becomes the patient’s own bone – my patients are spared the risks that metals can cause in the body.”
“Shark Screw® is a screw made from pure human donor bone – a very safe material that is familiar to the human body.”
“Our experience: Shark Screw® has proven its worth for many years in patients with or without pre-existing conditions. These include intolerances, allergies and diabetes. We provide our patients with Shark Screw® for hallux valgus and many other operations.”
“The big advantage for my Shark Screw® patients: This screw is converted into the patient’s own bone. The screw is no longer visible on the X-ray image after a while.”
How bone healing works
From Shark Screw® to the patient’s own bone
After insertion into the bone, Shark Screw® is colonized by the body’s own cells and integrated into the natural bone metabolism. This natural integration process creates new bone connections.1 Possible complications that can arise from metals in the body, such as irritation of nerves, ligaments and tendons, are therefore eliminated. The avoidance of these risks, sick leave and time expenditure leads to enormous savings in the healthcare system. 3,4,5
How bone healing works
Areas of application for Shark Screw®
The Shark Screw® has a wide range of applications. These primarily include the treatment of fractures, arthroses, deformities such as bunions, flat feet, tendon and ligament injuries or non-healing fractures (pseudarthroses).2,4,6,7 Find out more about your clinical picture and how it can be treated conservatively or surgically in the guides.
Deformities
Bunion
Hallux rigidus
Flat foot
Fractures
Scaphoid fracture
Metatarsal fracture
Ankle fracture
Arthritis
Heberden / Bouchard
Ankle joint arthrosis
Osteoarthritis of the big toe
Non-unions
After fractures
After failed surgery
On large & small tubular bones
Tendon injuries
Cruciate ligament
Achilles
Biceps tendon
Patients' experiences
Real people – real stories. How are patients who have been treated with Shark Screw® doing today? Why did they choose Shark Screw®? Here you will find selected experiences of patients who have been treated with Shark Screw®.
Magdalena's story
“My bunion made it difficult for me to buy shoes and do sports. It was made clear to me that if I had a metal plate fitted, it would have to be removed again later – I wanted to avoid this additional second surgery. That’s why I opted for Shark Screw®. I am extremely happy with the result and I am very pleased every day when I see my foot. I am grateful that I can now do any sport again and that I can find shoes that fit again.”
Raphael's story
“At first I didn’t even know I had flat feet when the pain in my foot started. I was particularly restricted by this deformity when walking. My orthopaedist told me about the Shark Screw® and my decision was made straight away – I don’t want to have any metal in my body. It also saves me a possible second surgery to remove the metal.”
Ilse's story
“At first, I had the feeling that my feet were always falling asleep – a short time later, the pain from the osteoarthritis got worse and worse when I walked. It even affected my spine. Unfortunately, painkillers no longer helped, so I decided to have surgery. I opted for Shark Screw® because it saved me a second surgery to remove the metal.”
Literature
1 I. Brcic u. a., „Incorporation of an Allogenic Cortical Bone Graft Following Arthrodesis of the First Metatarsophalangeal Joint in a Patient with Hallux Rigidus“, Life (Basel, Switzerland), Bd. 11, Nr. 6, 2021, doi: 10.3390/life11060473.
2 B. Hanslik-Schnabel, D. Flöry, G. H. Borchert, und J. E. Schanda, „Clinical and Radiologic Outcome of First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Arthrodesis Using a Human Allogeneic Cortical Bone Screw“, Foot Ankle Orthop, Bd. 7, Nr. 3, S. 24730114221112944, Juli 2022, doi: 10.1177/24730114221112944.
3 T. Huber, S. G. Hofstätter, R. Fiala, F. Hartenbach, R. Breuer, und B. Rath, „The Application of an Allogenic Bone Screw for Stabilization of a Modified Chevron Osteotomy: A Prospective Analysis“, Journal of Clinical Medicine, Bd. 11, Nr. 5, S. 1384, 2022, doi: 10.3390/jcm11051384.
4 S. Sailer u. a., „Treatment of scaphoid fractures and pseudarthroses with the human allogeneic cortical bone screw. A multicentric retrospective study“, J Orthop Traumatol, Bd. 24, Nr. 1, S. 6, Feb. 2023, doi: 10.1186/s10195-023-00686-7.
5 E. Walter, K. Schalle, und M. Voit, „Cost-Effectiveness of A Bone Transplant Fixation “Shark Screw” Transplant Compared To Metal Devices In Oesteosynthesis In Austria“, Value in Health, Bd. 19, Nr. 7, S. A539, 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2016.09.1115.
6 K. Pastl und W. Schimetta, „The application of an allogeneic bone screw for osteosynthesis in hand and foot surgery: a case series“, Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery, 2021, doi: 10.1007/s00402-021-03880-6.
7 J. E. Schanda u. a., „Biomechanical properties of a suture anchor system from human allogenic mineralized cortical bone matrix for rotator cuff repair“, BMC Musculoskelet Disord, Bd. 23, Nr. 1, S. 422, Dez. 2022, doi: 10.1186/s12891-022-05371-0.
8 N. H. Hart u. a., „Biological basis of bone strength: anatomy, physiology and measurement“, Journal of Musculoskeletal & Neuronal Interactions, Bd. 20, Nr. 3, S. 347–371, 2020.
9 Durch den Entfall des Risikos einer zweiten Operation zur Metallentfernung, entfallen die damit potenziellen Kosten, Krankenstände, Schmerzen und die damit einhergehenden OP-Risiken, die Patienten durch diese zweite Operation erleiden könnten.