Virgin Islands Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, the territory’s premier orthopedic practice founded by Dr. Jeffrey M. Chase, FAAOS, today announced the adoption of OSSIOfiber biointegrative implant technology for certain fracture care and bone fixation procedures.
This milestone marks the first deployment of this innovative, metal-free fixation system in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Eastern Caribbean, extending access to advanced orthopedic care for patients across the region.
Developed by leading orthopedic medical device company OSSIO, OSSIOfiber is the first and only biointegrative implant technology on the market. Unlike traditional metal hardware, OSSIOfiber implants are engineered from a proprietary polymeric mineral fiber matrix that stimulates bone in-growth and regeneration. Over time, the implant is replaced by the patient’s own natural bone, leaving nothing permanent behind and eliminating the complications and secondary removal surgeries commonly associated with metal fixation.
“Our patients in the Virgin Islands deserve the same access to cutting-edge orthopedic innovations available in major medical centers on the mainland,” said Dr. Jeffrey M. Chase, FAAOS, Founder, Virgin Islands Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. “OSSIOfiber represents a genuine leap forward, offering a technology that works with the body’s own healing processes rather than leaving permanent metal in place. It is especially useful in children, where we often recommend removing the metal hardware we put in after the broken bones heal. With the Ossio implant, we don’t need to do a second surgery as the implant turns to bone. We are proud to be the first practice in the territory to offer this option to our patients.”
About OSSIOfiber Technology
OSSIOfiber is the world’s first biointegrative orthopedic fixation technology cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The system is five times stronger than conventional bioabsorbable implants and uniquely supports early bone attachment and subsequent bone integration. The OSSIOfiber product portfolio includes compression screws, compression staples, trimmable fixation nails, hammertoe fixation systems, and suture anchors, offering solutions for fractures, osteotomies, and arthrodeses across the foot, ankle, hand, and wrist.
By converting gradually to natural bone, OSSIOfiber eliminates risks associated with permanent metal implants, including hardware irritation, stress shielding, corrosion, and the need for hardware removal surgery. Patients benefit from a more natural recovery with no long-term foreign material remaining in the body.
OSSIOfiber technology and implants are available at Schneider Regional Medical Center and Paragon Surgical Center on St. Thomas and at St. Croix Surgery Center on St. Croix.
About Dr. Jeffrey M. Chase, FAAOS
Dr. Jeffrey M. Chase is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (FAAOS) with more than 30 years of experience. He earned his medical degree from Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and completed a fellowship in Sports Medicine and shoulder surgery at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Dr. Chase is a member of the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, the Arthroscopy Association of North America, and a founding member of the Caribbean Orthopedic Association.
In 2000, Dr. Chase founded Virgin Islands Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, with locations across St. Thomas and St. Croix. He has dedicated his career to bringing advanced orthopedic techniques, including modern total joint replacement, arthroscopic treatment of shoulder and knee disorders, and now biointegrative fixation, to patients in the Virgin Islands and the Eastern Caribbean.
About Virgin Islands Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Virgin Islands Orthopedics & Sports Medicine is the U.S. Virgin Islands’ leading orthopedic practice, providing comprehensive musculoskeletal care to residents and visitors throughout the territory, with offices in St. Thomas and St. Croix.
