Christian, REPIPHYSIS® Expandable Implant
Christian, a 14 year-old Arizona resident, had never lost a wrestling match and didn’t plan to when competing in the state playoffs in March 2006. Unfortunately, during the match his knee gave out on him. Although Christian persevered and was able to wrestle through the pain and won the match, that day marked a life-changing moment for him. Immediately after the match, Christian’s parents, Carolyn and Brian, brought him to the doctor who recommended physical and ultrasound therapy to help heal what was presumed to be torn muscles and ligaments. However, after a few weeks of therapy, Christian’s family noticed a bump on Christian’s knee. Upon returning to his doctor, Christian was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and was referred to an orthopaedic oncologist, Dr. Matthew Seidel.

After reviewing Christian’s case, Dr. Seidel recommended starting an intensive regime of chemotherapy because his cancer had already spread to both of his lungs. Throughout the next seven months, Christian spent most of his time at Phoenix Children’s Hospital receiving chemotherapy which required numerous blood transfusions. Fortunately, after only three months of treatment, Christian’s lung cancer had gone into remission. After Christian completed the remaining four months of chemotherapy, the diseased part of the bone still needed to be removed to help drive the cancer into remission. Dr. Seidel provided the family with three options: amputation, rotationplasty or Wright’s REPIPHYSIS® Expandable Technology.

Dr. Seidel personally recommended the REPIPHYSIS® System, a prosthesis that replaces a child’s cancerous bone and acts as a “replacement bone,” growing alongside the healthy limb, thus eliminating the the multiple invasive surgery of conventional prostheses, to match limb length. Instead of undergoing repeated surgeries to extend the implant, as is the case with non-expandable implants, the REPIPHYSIS® System uses an electromagnetic field to slowly lengthen the implant internally. The lengthening process is a noninvasive procedure that can be completed in about 20 seconds without surgery. Carolyn and Brian immediately chose the REPIPHYSIS® System because they wanted Christian to have as normal life as possible. “All I could think of was Christian’s future,” Carolyn explained. “Now when he gets married he’ll be able to walk down the aisle.”

Now almost a year after having the REPIPHYSIS® System implanted, Christian is doing great. He recently had another surgery to remove some scar tissue, but that hasn’t kept him from being active. “For almost a year Christian was home schooled either at the hospital or at our house, and now he is back in school. It is great to see him hanging out with friends and just being a regular kid,” Brian said. Christian is disappointed that he can’t continue wrestling or playing other contact sports, but he has taken interest in golfing. “Christian is naturally athletic, so he is drawn to any sport. Golf is a great game for him to play,” Brian continued. Best of all, Christian recently got his driver’s license and looks forward to entering his junior year of high school.

These results are specific to this individual only. Individual results and activity levels after surgery vary and depend on many factors including age, weight and prior activity level.
There are risks and recovery times associated with surgery and there are certain individuals who should not undergo surgery.
Only a physician can tell you if this product and associated procedure are right for you and your unique circumstances. Please consult with a physician for complete information regarding benefits, risks and possible outcomes.