For the past 40 years, Orthofix Medical Inc. has been dedicated to improving patients’ lives by providing superior solutions to physicians worldwide. Today, Orthofix is a global medical device company focused on musculoskeletal products and therapies with more than 1,000 employees around the world. Headquartered in Lewisville, Texas, USA, Orthofix’s spine and orthopedic extremities products are distributed in more than 70 countries via the company’s sales representatives and distributors.

​​​​​​The roots of Orthofix Medical Inc. can be traced back to Italy in the late 1970s and the work of orthopedic researcher Giovanni De Bastiani at the University of Verona. De Bastiani had proposed the concept of “dynamization,” based on the natural ability of bone to repair itself. He developed a modular system of external axial frame devices that could be fitted to a bone, allowing micro-movement at the fracture site to stimulate bone healing. Working with a group of surgeons and an industrial engineer,​ De Bastiani founded Orthofix in 1980 in his garage in Verona, Italy, where they continued the development of devices and bringing them to market. ​

By the late 1990s, Orthofix products were sold in more than 60 countries. Since then, Orthofix has continued to grow by focusing on improving patients’ lives by providing superior reconstruction and regenerative musculoskeletal solutions to physicians worldwide. In addition, Orthofix has collaborated over the years on research and development activities with leading clinical organizations such as the MTF Biologics, the Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation, and the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.

Here are a few highlights from the company’s past 40 years:
  • Company founded in Verona, Italy (1980)
  • Launched Limb Lengthener (1981)
  • Launched Limb Reconstruction System (1987)
  • Orthofix listed on NASDAQ as OFIX (1992)
  • Acquired Novamedix Ltd. (1992)
  • Acquired Orthosonics (1993)
  • Acquired American Medical Electronics Inc., its U.S. manufacturing and distribution network, including SpinalStim™ and PhysioStim™ bone growth stimulation technology (1995)
  • Acquired Kinesis Medical, Inc. (2000)
  • Acquired Kinesis Medical, Inc., a bracing and pain management manufacturer (2004)
  • CervicalStim™ bone growth stimulator receives PMA approval as the only cervical spine fusion enhancement system (2004)
  • Acquired and launched the eight-Plate Guided Growth System™ (2004)
  • Acquired Blackstone Medical, Inc., a privately-held spinal implants and biologics technology firm (2006)
  • Entered into licensing with Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Launched the TrueLok™ Ring Fixator. (2007)
  • Entered in co-development agreement with the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation as tissue processor to launch Trinity Evolution® Allograft with Viable Cells (2008)
  • Launched Firebird® Spinal Fixation System (2009)
  • Launched Firebird® Deformity System (2010)
  • Orthofix corporate headquarters moves to Lewisville, Texas, from McKinney, Texas (2010)
  • Company unveils Orthofix Learning Institute, the company’s on-site research laboratory (2010)
  • Launched TL-HEX (TrueLok Hexapod System) in international markets (2012)
  • Launched Trinity ELITE® Allograft with Viable Cells to enhance bone fusion in patients with musculoskeletal defects (2013)
  • Orthofix segments its business into four strategic business units (2013)
  • Received CE Mark approval of LONESTAR™ Cervical Stand Alone System (2014)
  • Secured exclusive licensing and distribution agreement for the Samba-Screw® SI Fixation System (2014)
  • Launched JuniOrtho™, a new pediatric brand focused on solutions for children and young adults with orthopedic and congenital deformities (2017)
  • Acquired Spinal Kinetics Inc., manufacturer and distributor of the M6-C and M6-L artificial discs for patients suffering from degenerative disc disease of the spine (2018)
  • Orthofix realigns business unit structure into two units: Orthofix Spine (includes BioStim, Spine Fixation, Spinal Kinetics and Biologics businesses) and Orthofix Extremities (includes Extremity Fixation business) (2018)
  • Acquired Options Medical, LLC, a medical device distributor (2019)
  • Received U.S. FDA approval on the M6-C artificial cervical disc to treat patients with cervical disc degeneration (2019)
  • First U.S. patient implanted with the M6-C artificial cervical disc following FDA approval (2019)
  • Orthofix Medical Inc. celebrates its 40th anniversary (2020)