Intramedullary implant systems and methods

1 . An intramedullary implant system, comprising:

an implant including a plate portion and an integral intramedullary portion;

a plurality of talons provided on the integral intramedullary portion and configured to deploy from a first position to a second position to increase a rotational stability of the implant relative to a bone;

a locking screw received through an opening of the plate portion; and

a crossing screw received through an additional opening of the plate portion or the integral intramedullary portion,

wherein the crossing screw extends at a non-perpendicular angle relative to a centerline axis of the implant,

wherein the plate portion is laterally offset from a longitudinal centerline axis of the integral intramedullary portion such that a majority of the plate portion is shifted laterally beyond both a first lateral side edge and a second lateral side edge of the integral intramedullary portion.

2 . The intramedullary implant system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of talons are provided on a proximal portion of the integral intramedullary portion.

3 . The intramedullary implant system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the plurality of talons includes a first row of talons and a second row of talons, wherein the second row of talons is distal to the first row of talons along the proximal portion of the integral intramedullary portion.

4 . The intramedullary implant system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of talons include deployable wings, barbs, claws, or any combinations thereof.

5 . The intramedullary implant system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the integral intramedullary portion is configured in a shape of a nail body, and the additional opening is formed through the nail body for receiving the crossing screw.

6 . The intramedullary implant system as recited in claim 5 , wherein the nail body is cylindrically shaped and includes a blunt end.

7 . The intramedullary implant system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plate portion and the integral intramedullary portion establish a single-piece structure of the implant, and the single-piece structure excludes any mechanical attachments for connecting the plate portion and the integral intramedullary portion together.

8 . The intramedullary implant system as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the plate portion is curved.

9 . The intramedullary implant system as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the integral intramedullary portion is curved.

10 . The intramedullary implant system as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of both the plate portion and the integral intramedullary portion is curved.

11 . The intramedullary implant system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plate portion establishes an extramedullary component of the implant.

12 . The intramedullary implant system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the crossing screw is received through the additional opening of the plate portion, and comprising a second locking screw received through a second additional opening of the plate portion.

13 . The intramedullary implant system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the locking screw extends through the opening along a first longitudinal axis, and the crossing screw extends through the additional opening along a second longitudinal axis.

14 . The intramedullary implant system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the second longitudinal axis diverges away from the first longitudinal axis in a direction of insertion of the crossing screw.

15 . The intramedullary implant system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the crossing screw is located proximally of the locking screw.

16 . An intramedullary implant system, comprising:

an implant including a plate portion and an integral intramedullary portion;

a plurality of retractable talons provided on the integral intramedullary portion and configured to deploy from a first position to a second position to increase a rotational stability of the implant relative to a bone;

a first locking screw received through a first opening of the plate portion;

a second locking screw received through a second opening of the plate portion; and

a crossing screw received through a third opening of the integral intramedullary portion,

wherein the crossing screw extends at a non-perpendicular angle relative to a centerline axis of the implant,

wherein the plate portion is laterally offset from a longitudinal centerline axis of the integral intramedullary portion such that a majority of the plate portion is shifted laterally beyond both a first lateral side edge and a second lateral side edge of the integral intramedullary portion,

wherein the integral intramedullary portion is configured in a shape of a nail body, and the third opening extends through the nail body for receiving the crossing screw.

17 . An intramedullary implant system, comprising:

an implant including a plate portion adapted for extramedullary fixation relative to a metatarsal bone and an integral intramedullary portion adapted for insertion into an intramedullary passage inside the metatarsal bone;

a first row of retractable talons provided on the integral intramedullary portion and configured to deploy from a first position to a second position to increase a rotational stability of the implant,

a second row of retractable talons provided on the integral intramedullary portion and configured to deploy from a first position to a second position to increase the rotational stability of the implant,

wherein the second row of talons is located distal to the first row of talons along a length of the integral intramedullary portion;

a first locking screw received through a first opening of the plate portion;

a second locking screw received through a second opening of the plate portion; and

a crossing screw received through a third opening of the integral intramedullary portion,

wherein the crossing screw extends at a non-perpendicular angle relative to a longitudinal centerline axis of the integral intramedullary portion,

wherein the plate portion is laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline axis of the integral intramedullary portion such that a majority of the plate portion is shifted laterally beyond both a first lateral side edge and a second lateral side edge of the integral intramedullary portion,

wherein the integral intramedullary portion is configured in a shape of a nail body, and the third opening extends through the nail body for receiving the crossing screw.

18 . The intramedullary implant system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the first row of retractable talons and the second row of retractable talons emit an audible clicking noise when deployed from the first position to the second position.

19 . The intramedullary implant system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the plate portion is connected to a distal portion of the integral intramedullary portion, and the first row of retractable talons and the second row of retractable talons are provided on a proximal portion of the integral intramedullary portion.

20 . The intramedullary implant system as recited in claim 19 , comprising an external driver engageable to a distal end of the distal portion and being rotatable for deploying the first row of retractable talons and the second row of retractable talons from the first position to the second position.

21 . The intramedullary implant system as recited in claim 20 , wherein the first row of retractable talons and the second row of retractable talons are simultaneously deployable in response to rotation of the external driver.

22 . The intramedullary implant system as recited in claim 17 , wherein the plate portion is laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline axis of the integral intramedullary portion by a distance between about 3 mm and about 10 mm.

23 . The intramedullary implant system as recited in claim 22 , wherein the offset is configured to accommodate anatomical variations of a metatarsal bone during hallux valgus correction.