The AO Innovation Translation Center (AO ITC) is delighted to announce that the Distal Radius Intramedullary Nail (DRIM-Nail) received FDA clearance in September 2026. This milestone represents a major advance in the ongoing partnership between AO and DISRAD AG, allowing expansion of the novel fracture-fixation solution to the US. 

Approved by the AO in June 2022, the DRIM-Nail is an innovative treatment option for patients with extraarticular distal radius fractures. The ideation phase of the DRIM-Nail was initiated in 2010 as an AO Technical Commission project in the Hand Expert Group. Swiss surgeons Ladislav Nagy and Andreas Schweizer subsequently took the concept forward for further development at Balgrist University Hospital in Zurich. The design, development and certification of this novel intramedullary implant subsequently evolved into a multi-partner collaboration involving DISRAD AG, a start-up founded at Balgrist University Hospital by Balgrist Beteiligungs AG, the University of Zurich, the AO Technical Commission’s Hand Expert Group, AO Innovation Funding, and 41medical AG. 

Since obtaining its CE mark in July 2020, a clinical case series was initiated in selected clinics in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. Key insights from the clinical case series were presented at the AO ITC’s Innovation Hub in December 2025 by Rohit Arora, Alejandro Lluch, Martin Langer, Mauro Maniglio and Andreas Schweizer, as part of the AO Davos Courses. This event built on the 2024 Meet the Expert session in Davos, an interactive stage show featuring a practical demonstration of the surgical technique to insert the DRIM-Nail and an overview of the clinical benefits of the new device. The presenters included renowned surgeons Alejandro Lluch, Martin Langer and Andreas Schweizer, who were instrumental in the development of the new implant. Both sessions were met with highly positive feedback, confirming strong interest in the DRIM-Nail both in Davos and internationally.

Consistent with the AO TC’s ethos of harnessing innovation to improve patient care and outcomes, the new DRIM-Nail provides all the benefits of minimally invasive intramedullary fracture stabilization, including protection of the adjacent soft tissue. This aims to achieve faster recovery, better and faster functional and cosmetic outcomes, and a lower economic burden compared to current treatment options.

Going forward, DISRAD AG’s strategic focus will center on strengthening clinical evidence for the nail, expanding clinical experience and supporting more clinics and patients through an international rollout.

Prof. Dr. med. Martin Langer said: “We are thrilled that the DRIM-Nail is now more widely available for patients and surgeons worldwide. This new solution marks a genuine step forward for patient care and outcomes – it’s the most gentle implant system available, and the surgical time is also shorter than with plate osteosynthesis. We look forward to seeing the findings from the clinical case series.”

Clinics and surgeons interested in the DRIM-Nail are invited to contact info@disrad.ch for further information and opportunities to participate in clinical data collection.