Hammer toe implant method

1. A method, comprising:

exposing a joint between first and second bones;

creating a hole in the first bone;

advancing a threaded portion of an implant into the second bone, the implant including a blade portion extending from the threaded portion and having a plurality of serrations;

positioning the first bone such that the hole in the first bone aligns with the blade portion of the implant; and

forcing the first bone into engagement with the blade portion of the implant;

wherein advancing the threaded portion of the implant includes:

placing the blade portion of the implant within a recess defined in a driving adapter;

retaining the blade portion within the recess of the driving adapter with an o-ring; said o-ring having a circular cross section, said cross section being in a plane parallel to an axis passing through the center of the o-ring; positioning the o-ring in a groove in the driving adapter and positioning the o-ring in a valley between serrations on the blade portion of the implant such that opposing valleys within the recess align with the groove and engage the o-ring, and

using a driving tool coupled to the driving adapter to advance the threaded portion of the implant into the second bone.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising resecting an end of the first bone.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising resecting an end of the second bone.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising resecting an end of the second bone.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the joint is a proximal interphelangeal joint.

6. A method, comprising:

exposing a proximal interphelangeal joint;

resecting an end of a proximal phalanx;

resecting an end of a middle phalanx such that the adjacent faces of the proximal and middle phalanxes are resected;

creating a hole in the resected end of the middle phalanx;

inserting a threaded portion of a hammer toe implant into the resected end of the proximal phalanx, the hammer toe implant including a blade portion extending from the threaded portion and having a plurality of serrations;

positioning the middle phalanx such that the hole in the middle phalanx aligns with the blade portion of the hammer toe implant; and

forcing the middle phalanx into engagement with the blade portion of the hammer toe implant;

wherein advancing the threaded portion of the implant includes:

placing the blade portion of the hammer toe implant within a recess defined in a driving adapter,

retaining the blade portion within the recess of the driving adapter with an o-ring, said o-ring having a circular cross section, said cross section being in a plane parallel to an axis passing through the center of the o-ring; positioning the o-ring in a groove in the driving adapter and positioning the o-ring in a valley between serrations on the blade portion of the implant such that opposing valleys within the recess align with the groove and engage the o-ring, and

using a driving tool coupled to the driving adapter to advance the threaded portion of the implant into the proximal phalanx.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the blade portion of the hammer toe implant extends from the threaded portion of the hammer toe implant at angle with respect to an axis defined by the threaded portion of the hammer toe implant.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the angle is between zero and 45 degrees.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the angle is between five and 15 degrees.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein a diameter of the threaded portion of the hammer toe implant is between 1.6 mm and 2.4 mm.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein a diameter of the threaded portion of the hammer toe implant is 2 mm.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein creating the hole in the resected end of the middle phalanx includes using a drill or a broach.

13. A method, comprising:

making an incision over a proximal interphelangeal joint;

exposing the proximal interphelangeal joint;

resecting an end of a proximal phalanx;

resecting an end of a middle phalanx such that adjacent faces of the proximal and middle phalanxes are resected;

creating a hole using a drill or a broach in the end of the middle phalanx that was resected;

inserting a threaded portion of an implant into the end of the proximal phalanx that was resected, the implant including a blade portion extending from the threaded portion and having a plurality of serrations; wherein every thickness dimension along the blade portion of the hammer toe implant is less than the respective width dimension along the blade portion of the implant,

positioning the middle phalanx such that the hole in the middle phalanx aligns with the blade portion of the implant; and,

forcing the middle phalanx into engagement with the blade portion of the implant further comprising placing a driving adapter over the blade portion of the implant,

wherein inserting the threaded portion of the implant includes using a driving tool coupled to the driving adapter to advance the threaded portion of the implant into the proximal phalanx;

further comprising retaining the blade portion within a recess of the driving adapter with an o-ring, said o-ring having a circular cross section, said cross section being in a plane parallel to an axis passing through the center of the o-ring; positioning the o-ring in a groove in the driving adapter and positioning the o-ring in a valley between serrations on the blade portion of the implant such that opposing valleys within the recess align with the groove and engage the o-ring.