Davide Bianchi, Global President It was yet another monotonous day for David but things were about to change. After a long, busy, and exhausting day at work, skittering across destinations as a pizza delivery boy, David was all set to unwind on the way back home. Along the way, David—who had trained for years as a competitive BMX cyclist in Hungary—realised that a car was turning in front of him, and in the blink of an eye, it hit him on his right side. “From there, I remember waking up on the sidewalk, and I couldn’t move my right leg. That’s how I knew there was a big problem,” recalls David.

Every bone in David’s right leg was broken, his foot crushed, and the nerves, which provide feeling to the lower leg had been severed. Not one, but two different surgeons recommended amputating the 22-year-old’s right leg. Understandably, David was devastated. David was desperate for another opinion. Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. Satyagit Naique offered a glimmer of hope. Together with plastic surgeons, Dr Naique performed multiple surgeries, including a free flap procedure, where tissue and an artery from David’s scapula were used to restore the skin and blood flow to his foot. This is where Orthofix Extremities’ TL-HEX™ system, an extremity fixation device that keeps bone segments aligned during the healing process, came into the play—making the impossible possible. The successful procedure saved David from the amputation of his leg and breathed new life into his passion for cycling. Needless to say, David was alive again. “It was fantastic to sit on a bike again and jump through the air,” says David. ”One of my dreams came true again. It is an unbelievably great feeling.”



Stories akin to that of David’s are indicative of Orthofix Extremities’ determination to upset the apple cart, make waves and rock the boat in the orthopaedic sector with sheer innovation. With a culture conducive to innovation, Orthofix Extremities is shaping the way orthopaedic surgeons and physicians can restore the quality of life for patients in need of reconstructive and regenerative orthopaedic and spine solutions. “Orthofix Extremities is all about innovation. Our talented and passionate team of people focused on improving and, in some cases, saving patient’s lives, is born from innovation, evolved through innovation and still committed to innovation,” says Davide Bianchi, Global President, Orthofix Extremities—a strategic business unit of Orthofix Medical.



A global medical device company, Orthofix Medical is focused on musculoskeletal healing products and value-added services. With a singular focus on improving patients’ lives, the company specialises in providing superior reconstruction and regenerative musculoskeletal solutions to physicians worldwide. Besides Orthofix Extremities, Orthofix Medical also has another business unit, Orthofix Spine, which includes bone growth stimulation products, biologics, spine fixation implants and motion preservation devices. The two strategic business units distribute cutting-edge products in more than 70 countries worldwide. Through the convergence of employees, patients, and passion, Orthofix Extremities is relentlessly enhancing the dynamics of the orthopaedic market, making a difference in the lives of patients through innovative medical devices and biologic solutions. “We are the leader in external fixation, where minimally invasive devices are applied externally to the bone to support fracture healing and deformity correction. We are also focused on developing software, mobile apps, and support materials for postoperative treatment,” informs Bianchi. In order to address multiple challenges in this realm, the company focuses on developing solutions for Charcot Foot treatment, paediatric and limb reconstruction, trauma, and medical education verticals.

Making a Difference

Before diving into the features and functionalities of the diverse range of solutions, Bianchi stresses the global prevalence of diabetes—the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. “Up to 80 percent of the diabetic patients are more likely to die within five years of having a limb amputation; 0.3 to 7.5 percent of diabetic patients may develop a Charcot Neuroarthropathy, whereby a minor injury can lead to amputation. While 85 percent of leg amputations are a result of a diabetic foot ulcer, 4 out of 5 limb amputations can be prevented,” states Bianchi, who brings over 25 years of global experience in medical devices, leading his team at Orthofix Extremities to achieve their goals and vision.

While ‘Saving a Limb, Saving a Life’ has become the focal point of treating patients with risk of diabetes-related amputations, the Orthofix Extremities team is determined to leverage its experience in providing solutions for challenging conditions in other areas of orthopaedics and bring devices and services to physicians worldwide to tackle this life-threatening condition. “Starting from our product portfolio through our services to our high-quality educational programs, we believe we can help surgeons offer patients the opportunity to return to an active, near normal life,” adds Bianchi. For treating a wide variety of deformities, joint fusions, fractures, and complex corrective osteotomies, Orthofix Extremities has devised the TrueLok™ Ring Fixation System—an external fixation system used as a static offloading option for patients with Charcot foot deformity with or without associated ulcers.