GLW Medical previews Valerius bunion system for MIS Lapidus fusion

GLW Medical plans to preview its GLW Valerius bunion correction system at the AOFAS Annual Meeting 2026 in Seattle. The Case Ready platform expands the company’s percutaneous-first foot and ankle lineup with a guided MIS Lapidus fusion workflow that could reach limited market release in early 2027.

Why it matters: - GLW Medical is pushing deeper into minimally invasive bunion surgery with a system aimed at Lapidus fusion, a procedure used for advanced hallux valgus deformities. - The launch expands the company’s foot and ankle portfolio beyond distal metatarsal osteotomy and gives surgeons another procedure-specific option in MIS bunion correction. - The Case Ready model is designed to simplify setup and reduce dependence on reusable guide sets, dedicated CT planning software and capital equipment.

What happened: - GLW, Inc. said it will preview the GLW Valerius™ Bunion Correction System at the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Annual Meeting 2026 in Seattle from September 16 to 19. - GLW Medical said Valerius adds MIS Lapidus fusion to its percutaneous-first bunion portfolio. - The system is built around the company’s Ortholucent technology and a guided, procedure-specific workflow. - GLW Medical will show Valerius at Booth 1312 using anatomical models.

The details: - GLW Valerius combines an ortholucent guide, Creed Edge™ implants and intraoperative X-ray visualization to support MIS Lapidus fusion when clinically appropriate. - The workflow is designed to help with alignment, implant path preparation, crossing-screw placement and optional fixation. - The system includes single-use Creed burrs for joint preparation. - The Case Ready™ approach uses procedure-specific, single-use guidance with standard intraoperative X-ray visualization. - GLW Medical says the model may reduce instrument handling, setup and reprocessing burden for ambulatory surgery centers. - Limited market release of GLW Valerius is anticipated in early 2027. - The broader Ortholucent foot and ankle platform also includes GLW Excalibur™ for calcaneal slide and Zadek osteotomy, GLW Sabre™ for distal metatarsal osteotomy, Creed HammerThread™ for hammertoe correction and Apollo AFX™ ankle fracture plating.

Between the lines: - GLW Medical is pairing shared platform elements with procedure-specific products, which can make a product family easier to scale across multiple surgeries. - The company is also leaning into a workflow story, not just an implant story, by emphasizing guidance, visualization and disposable tools. - That matters because MIS bunion adoption often depends on surgeon training, repeatability and operating room efficiency. - Bunions, also called hallux valgus, affect about one-third of adults in the U.S., and prevalence rises with age.

What's next: - Surgeons attending AOFAS 2026 can review Valerius alongside the company’s other Ortholucent products at the GLW Medical booth. - GLW Medical is expected to move toward a limited market release of Valerius in early 2027. - The company also plans to keep building out its percutaneous-first MIS foot and ankle portfolio across complementary bunion correction approaches.

The bottom line: - GLW Medical is broadening its MIS bunion lineup with a Lapidus fusion system built to be more guided, more procedure-specific and easier to deploy in outpatient settings.