Orthofix Announces US Commercial Launch of the Fitbone Transport and Lengthening System
The new technology will be showcased at the 2025 Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society Annual Meeting this week in Philadelphia
This week marks a landmark achievement in orthopedic innovation: the full commercial launch of the Fitbone™ Transport and Lengthening System (Fitbone TLN) in the United States. Following a successful limited market release, this technology represents a significant advancement in how surgeons approach complex limb reconstruction procedures.
The Fitbone Transport and Lengthening System is the only intramedullary nail designed to transport or lengthen the bone through a single surgery. This unique capability addresses one of the most challenging aspects of orthopedic care: treating patients with large bone defects in the femur and tibia caused by trauma, and infectious or malignant conditions.
Dr. Geoffrey Marecek, Orthopedic Traumatologist at Cedars Sinai Hospital, shared the impact of this advancement: “The ability to treat patients with a segmental bone defect and a limb length discrepancy with one single device like the Fitbone Transport and Lengthening System represents a significant advancement in simplifying bone transport procedures and potentially reducing overall treatment complexity.”
Built on Two Decades of Proven Technology
The Fitbone Transport and Lengthening System was designed using clinically proven motorized technology that has more than 20 years of clinical use with the Fitbone TAA Intramedullary Lengthening System. The system, which consists of a motorized intramedullary nail, receiver, and external remote control, is an all-in-one internal solution that allows surgeons to utilize the principles of distraction osteogenesis to treat segmental bone defects or lengthen bone with a single device.
Key Clinical Benefits for Surgeons and Patients
Dual Functionality in One Device
The Fitbone TLN stands apart as the only system capable of both bone transport and lengthening procedures in a single surgery. This versatility eliminates the need for multiple interventions, reducing patient trauma and treatment complexity.
Advanced “Rewind & Go” Technique
One of the most impressive capabilities of the Fitbone TLN is its ability to treat defects up to 120mm using the innovative “rewind and go” technique. As Dr. Marecek noted, “Being able to utilize the ‘rewind and go’ technique allows me to treat larger and more challenging defects with an all-internal system.”
Enhanced Patient Experience
The system offers high patient comfort, relatively short treatment duration, and minimally invasive surgical procedures. The system comprises a motorized intramedullary nail, a receiver, and an external control set, which enables the patient to manage the distraction phase at home.
Comprehensive Treatment Options
The system can treat bone defects up to 80mm without requiring revision of interlocking fixation, and larger defects can be addressed with the staged “rewind and go” technique, providing surgeons with unprecedented flexibility in treatment planning.
First U.S. Implant Success
Dr. David Frumberg, an orthopedic surgeon and Director of the Limb Restoration and Lengthening Program in New Haven, Connecticut, who performed the first U.S. implantation, shared the promising implications of this advancement: “Patients with defects to the femur and tibia can be difficult to treat and often have undergone multiple prior surgeries. The Fitbone Transport and Lengthening System is a game-changing new option that enables bone to be transported across the defect, allowing very challenging problems to be treated without multiple follow-up surgeries.”
Reinforcing Our Leadership in Limb Reconstruction
The full U.S. commercial launch of the Fitbone Transport and Lengthening System reinforces Orthofix’s position as the only orthopedic company offering a comprehensive portfolio of both internal and external fixation solutions for limb reconstruction.
“The Fitbone Transport and Lengthening System is a pivotal addition to our portfolio, allowing us to better serve traumatologists, ortho-oncologists, and limb reconstruction surgeons who treat patients with challenging bone defects. We are excited to be leading the limb reconstruction market with innovation and advancing simplified solutions,” said Patrick Fisher, President of Global Orthopedics.
The launch also represents our commitment to advancing patient care through innovative technology. By combining the proven track record of Fitbone technology with new transport capabilities, we’re providing surgeons with a tool for addressing some of the most challenging cases in orthopedic trauma and reconstruction.
Orthofix will be at the 34th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society, July 18-19, in Philadelphia, PA.
We invite attendees to join us for our featured symposium at 12:00 p.m. on July 18, “An All-Internal Approach to Treating Segmental Bone Defects,” with expert faculty and learn how the Fitbone Transport and Lengthening System supports an all-internal approach to bone transport and limb lengthening.
For more information about the Fitbone Transport and Lengthening System, visit our product page or contact our Orthopedics team.