How Woven Orthopedic Technologies’ Ogmend® is changing spine surgery for cancer patients

Patient Stories: How MedTech Innovator alumni are transforming lives

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How Woven Orthopedic Technologies’ Ogmend® is Changing Spine Surgery for Cancer Patients

Imagine someone you love facing cancer. Now imagine that on top of fighting this disease, they’re told the cancer has spread to their spine. This is the reality for up to 40% of cancer patients who develop spinal metastases. In many of these cases, surgery becomes a critical intervention—not only to relieve pain but to preserve mobility, independence, and quality of life.

But surgery isn’t simple. In fact, approximately 76% of patients with tumor-related spinal cord compression undergo surgical intervention, and in these high-stakes situations, one factor becomes essential: stable and durable fixation between surgical hardware and bone. Unfortunately, bone quality in these patients is often compromised due to both the cancer itself and the aggressive treatments used to fight it. Traditional spinal hardware, like screws, can struggle to stay anchored in weakened or damaged bone, risking surgical failure.

That’s where Ogmend®, developed by Woven Orthopedic Technologies, is making a transformative impact.

A Solution Designed for the Most Fragile Patients

Ogmend® is an innovative, implantable sleeve that enhances screw fixation in compromised bone, helping surgeons achieve strong and stable results in even the most challenging spinal surgeries. It’s a fast, simple, and reliable solution designed specifically for cases where bone fragility threatens surgical success.

For patients with metastatic spinal tumors, Ogmend® offers new hope, not just for survival, but for improved quality of life during treatment.

Margaret’s Story: Hope in the Face of Fragility

After battling multiple myeloma, “Margaret” was devastated to learn the cancer had spread to her spine. As the disease progressed, it eroded her vertebrae and compressed her spinal cord. Margaret faced the terrifying possibility of paralysis, compounded by excruciating pain. Surgery was the only option to relieve pressure on her spinal cord and stabilize her spine, but her bones were so fragile that placing screws without reinforcement seemed destined to fail.

Fortunately, her surgical team had access to Ogmend®. During the procedure, the surgeon implanted Ogmend® sleeves, which created a reinforced interface between the screws and Margaret’s delicate bone. The surgery was a success. Her spine was stabilized, her pain diminished, and most importantly, she retained her ability to walk. A year later, Margaret’s surgical hardware remains stable, and she continues her cancer treatments without additional interventions to correct instability.

Surgeon-Backed Confidence

Margaret’s outcome reflects a growing confidence among spine surgeons using Ogmend®. As one surgeon explains:

“In patients with spinal tumors, especially those with metastatic disease, bone quality is of significant concern. These tumors can be destructive, disrupting the bony architecture and compromising spinal stability. Surgical complications such as hardware loosening and breakage are significantly increased in these patients. The Ogmend® sleeves give me confidence that I can achieve the robust fixation needed to accomplish my surgical goals of decompression and stabilization.”

Ogmend® doesn’t just improve screw fixation, it empowers surgeons to operate decisively in complex cases, giving them the ability to offer help to patients they might have otherwise considered inoperable.

A Widespread Challenge, A Scalable Solution

Spinal metastases affect more than 100,000 patients annually in the United States alone. Many of these patients, like Margaret, are parents, siblings, friends, and partners. They deserve the best possible chance to live with less pain, maintain independence, and focus on their cancer treatment without the looming threat of spinal failure.
Ogmend® offers surgeons a chance to give that to them. It’s a technology that makes a tangible difference when outcomes matter most.

The Mission Behind the Innovation

At Woven Orthopedic Technologies, the mission is clear: to provide surgeons, patients, and families with the most effective tools to manage complex orthopedic challenges. Ogmend® is a reflection of that mission turning what used to be high-risk, high-failure surgeries into confident, durable interventions.

In the face of spinal metastases, Ogmend® doesn’t just support screws, it supports lives, futures, and hope.

Because when it’s your loved one on the operating table, you want to know that the best solutions are in the surgeon’s hand