Funding boost for ‘castless’ healing trials

Apr 15 2008 by Chris Knox, The Journal

A REVOLUTIONARY way of treating fractures without the need for surgery or plaster casts has been given a cash boost to take it to the next level.

Newcastle-based Cambfix has received £75,000 from North East investment house NStar to begin clinical trials and market the product to hospitals and surgeries worldwide.

The product was designed by Dr Ali Bajwa, an orthopaedic surgeon specialising in ankle and wrist fractures at Middlesbrough’s James Cook Hospital, after he became concerned about the invasive surgeries required to insert and extract pins from some simple fractures.

The exterior support device differs from plaster casts by allowing the patient extra room to heal, which can also help prevent infections.

Mr Bajwa set up with the firm with business partner Linda Pomeroy 16 months ago.

Cambfix is the first business to receive funding from NStar’s Three Pillars Fund, which invests in North East businesses working in the areas of energy, healthcare and health sciences and process industries.

Amanda McMurray, Three Pillars fund manager, said : “The initial focus has been ankle and wrist fractures, but the scope is there to expand into other areas and the Three Pillars Fund provides the foundations for the next steps that the company plans to take.”