Stanmore Implants Worldwide

This story begins not in a garage, but in a hospital. Its roots trace back to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, UK, where pioneering research in the mid-20th century was changing lives. The work of physicians like John T. Scales and J.N. Wilson laid the foundation for a new approach to complex orthopedic problems. This decades-long effort was formalized in 1996 when Stanmore Implants was spun-out from University College London's Centre for Biomedical Engineering. The company's mission was clear: to design and manufacture highly specialized implants for patients with severe conditions like orthopedic cancer, where limb salvage was the primary goal. They developed a portfolio of both off-the-shelf and patient-specific implants for complex cases. A key innovation was a system of non-invasive, expandable implants for juvenile patients, which could be lengthened using an external device as the child grew, avoiding repeated surgeries. The playbook took a significant turn in April 2016. Medical technology giant Stryker announced it was acquiring Stanmore Implants in an all-cash deal for £35.6 million. For Stryker, the acquisition provided a portfolio of differentiated technologies and expanded its presence in the niche but critical orthopedic oncology market. For Stanmore, it was the transition from a specialized UK-based innovator to a global player, allowing its life-altering technology to reach patients around the world.