- Broken wrists are the No.1 crash risk for snowboarders
- Snowsports wrist injuries can lead to long-term complications if not treated promptly and effectively
- The McGinley Lever Action Plate System® can take the guesswork out of surgery after a wrist fracture
The improvements to ski bindings means there has been a reduction in the number of skiers suffering broken legs although knee injuries remain a major risk. For snowboarders the difference in bindings means leg fractures are still prevalent.
But skiers and snowboarders do share common ground when they try to break a fall on the slopes. This can cause wrist sprains, chipped bones, or complete fractures.
Dr Joe McGinley – CEO McGinley Orthopedics
Leading surgeons at Hand Surgery Specialists of Texas say wrist fractures are the No.1 crash risk for snowboarders in particular and delaying treatment can lead to osteoarthritis, chronic pain, and nerve or blood vessel damage.
Such long-term complications from any wrist fracture – whether suffered by the young and sporty, right up to the elderly – prompted Wyoming-based McGinley Orthopedics to invent its Lever Action Plate System®. The proprietary technology makes it easier for surgeons to align wrist fractures with precision, which means fewer complications.
Company Founder and CEO Joe McGinley MD, PhD (see Youtube video) said: “Winter brings a global rash of wrist injuries on ski slopes, and many people try to make light of any wrist pain after falling, thinking ‘it’s only a sprain’.
“Some even try to carry on skiing or snowboarding and, of course, Murphy’s Law says they will make things worse by falling again. But they really do need to get checked out, as they may need surgery. Even then, their troubles may not be over.
“Many patients have complications and do not regain full mobility. Our Lever Action Plate System® can avoid this with its ‘right first time’ capability. It not only stabilizes the broken bones but holds them exactly as they should be while mending, with scope for adjustment if needed.”
The Lever Action Plate System makes it easier for surgeons to align wrist fractures with precision, which means fewer complications.
First used operationally in January 2021 and available in several sizes for both right and left hand and wrists, Dr McGinley said it’s become a ‘go to’ aid for orthopedic surgeons dealing with such fractures. “It takes any guesswork out of the equation and can match decades of experience found in a veteran orthopedic surgeon,” explains Dr McGinley.
Dr McGinley, no stranger himself to outdoor sports, has steered his company into developing a suite of smart surgical devices, the IntelliSense® handheld robotics range.
He said: “We believe guesswork can and must be taken out of many common orthopedic procedures and ‘right first time’ accuracy removes unnecessary pain for the patient, as well as saving cost and time in a sector which has been slow to adopt game-changing technology.”
* McGinley Orthopedics is currently seeking a $40 million Regulation A+ equity crowdfunding investment offering to fund its further disruption of a global precision surgery market, which The Brainy Insights expects to top $18.99 billion by 2030, with the handheld surgical devices segment likely to have the fastest CAGR (compound annual growth rate) – 17.15% over the forecast period.
Dr Joseph McGinley is a regular speaker and panellist at medtech events, and will be a leading voice at this year’s LSI (Life Science Intelligence) USA ‘23 Emerging Medtech Summit at Dana Point, California (March 20-23).
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