Dr. Scott Maling spoke to Northeast Valley News about “external fixation” a technology to treat patients with severe ankle and foot deformations. The robotic boot is known as Synthes AutoStrut correction.

Maling has been using external fixation for 30 years—though Synthes AutoStrut Correction is an innovative version.

Synthes AutoStrut correction helps to realign the bone and soft tissue of patient’s feet and ankles “mechanically”.

Maling explained that patients wear the “fixator” from anywhere between 8 to 12 weeks.

The device features metal pins that are inserted in different areas of the impacted bone.

Maling told Northeast Valley News “It does up to twenty-two mini micro corrections throughout the day.”

These corrections slowly adjust the bone to realign it into a proper position. Which is part of the treatment process that aims to literally get patients back on their feet.  One such local patient, who “suffered a severe Charcot deformity,” was recently helped.

Mario Campillo’s ankle bone became heavily misshapen because of a car accident and he lost all mobility in his foot and was no longer able to walk on the injured foot.

The only other option for Campillo was amputation due to the severity of his injury.

“Because of the severity and the rigidity of it—it couldn’t be corrected all at once,” Maling said.

The corrections need to be gradual and precise to ensure the treatment is effective and goes as smoothly as possible. Which is exactly what Sythes AutoStrut correction is made for.

Maling shared that there are certain downsides to this treatment.

The biggest risk being “pin tract infections and wound complications.”

Which are some of the complications Campillo faced.

Dr. Maling was actively treating Campillo’s wounds in office ensuring that they were properly packed and bandaged.

“It’s just a matter of letting the wounds heal,” Maling said.

According to Maling, for patients like Campillo, taking care and control of his diabetes also plays a role in the entirety of the healing process.

Recovery—if possible, typically takes patients a year from start to finish.

“If the bone doesn’t heal in the normal timeframe or doesn’t heal at all, we have to go back and revise a certain portion of it,” Maling said.

For some patients the deformity may need extra corrections.

With cases such as Campillo’s Synthes AutoStrut Correction is their only option.

Campillo told Northeast Valley News “I went to three different doctors, they all wanted to cut it off.”

Though Dr. Maling had different plans.

“Doctor Maling said we’re going to try this and If we lose the foot in the end—then at least we tried,” Campillo said.

Dr. Maling recently shared the news in office that Campillo’s bone has been corrected.