Combined intramedullary - extramedullary bone stabilization and alignment system
View Patent ↗Disclosed is a combined intramedullary and extramedullary bone stabilization and alignment system, which includes both methods and apparatuses for the alignment and stabilization of a first bone or piece of bone to a second bone or piece of bone. Embodiments of the system may include an implant device which has an elongated framework within the intramedullary portion and an extramedullary portion which are cannulated. The cannulated aspect of the framework includes a wire aperture through both the intramedullary portion and the extramedullary portion.
1 . A surgical assembly comprising: an implant alignment tool and an implant device, said implant alignment tool configured for aligning the implant device for use as a medial bunion plate or a Hallux Limitus/Dorsal Bunion Plate, in a patient being implanted to stabilize a first bone section of a metatarsal relative to a second bone section of the metatarsal of the patient,
the implant alignment tool comprising:
a handle;
a proximal screw guide portion extending from said handle; and
an implant device attachment portion configured to secure the implant alignment tool to the implant device,
the implant device comprises:
an elongated framework including an intramedullary portion integral with an extramedullary portion, configured to attach a first section of the first metatarsal bone to the second section of the first metatarsal bone;
the intramedullary portion configured for longitudinal insertion into the first section of the first metatarsal bone and including at least one fastener aperture disposed to receive a bone fastener there-through transverse to the longitudinally inserted intramedullary portion;
the extramedullary portion configured to abut a prepared external surface of the second section of the first metatarsal bone and including at least one fastener aperture disposed to receive a bone fastener inserted in the second section of the first metatarsal bone transverse to the extramedullary portion; and
a wire aperture extending longitudinally through the intramedullary portion of the framework, disposed to receive and be guided by a guide wire inserted in the first section of the first metatarsal bone as the intramedullary portion is inserted into the first section of the first metatarsal bone over the guidewire, thereby aligning the extramedullary portion with the prepared external surface of the second section of the first metatarsal bone with the guide wire.
2 . An implant alignment tool as recited in claim 1 , and wherein the implant device attachment portion is further comprised of an externally threaded shaft configured to fasten to and unfasten from an internally threaded aperture in the implant device.
3 . An implant alignment tool as recited in claim 2 , and further wherein the shaft is rotatably mounted relative to the handle of the implant alignment tool such that it can be rotated to fasten it to the implant device and rotated an opposite direction to unfasten it from the implant device.
4 . An implant alignment tool as recited in claim 1 , and further wherein the shaft is sized relative to a shaft aperture in the implant device such that the implant alignment tool may be fastened to and unfastened from the implant device via a friction fit.