EXTERNAL FIXATION SYSTEM
An external fixation system for reducing bone fragments, comprising: a substantially rigid frame member at least partially surrounding a fractured bone; a clamping assembly associated with the substantially rigid frame member, the clamping assembly having at least one opening for receiving a bone fixation member that is configured to penetrate the fractured bone; and a polyaxially adjustable pivot housing associated with the substantially rigid frame member, the polyaxially adjustable pivot housing being configured to cause the alignment of the bone fragments to be adjusted in response to a force exerted on the substantially rigid frame member.
1 . An external fixation system for reducing bone fragments, comprising:
a substantially rigid frame member at least partially surrounding a fractured bone;
a clamping assembly associated with the substantially rigid frame member, the clamping assembly having at least one opening for receiving a bone fixation member that is configured to penetrate the fractured bone; and
a polyaxially adjustable pivot housing associated with the substantially rigid frame member, the polyaxially adjustable pivot housing being configured to cause the alignment of the bone fragments to be adjusted in response to a force exerted on the substantially rigid frame member.
2 . The external fixation system of claim 1 , further comprising a second clamping assembly coupled to the polyaxially adjustable pivot housing, the second clamping assembly having an opening for receiving and coupling to the substantially rigid frame member.
3 . The external fixation system of claim 1 , wherein the substantially rigid frame member comprises a u-shaped ring frame.
4 . The external fixation system of claim 1 , wherein the substantially rigid frame member comprises a first substantially rigid frame member and a second substantially rigid frame member, the first and second substantially rigid frame members being connected by a support arm.
5 . The external fixation system of claim 4 , wherein the support arm is an incrementally adjustable ratcheting strut.
6 . The external fixation system of claim 4 , wherein the polyaxially adjustable pivot housing is coupled to a first end of the support arm.
7 . The external fixation system of claim 6 , further comprising a second polyaxially adjustable pivot housing coupled to a second end of the support arm.
8 . The external fixation system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the clamping assembly and the polyaxially adjustable pivot housing includes a provisional locking feature that allows the alignment of the bone fragments to be slightly adjusted by overcoming a friction fit that is caused by compressive forces and soft tissue tension, the provisional locking feature being actuatable without the use of a tool.
9 . The external fixation system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the clamping assembly and the polyaxially adjustable pivot housing includes a definitive locking feature that allows the bone fragments to be secured in a defined alignment orientation, the definitive locking feature being manually actuatable without the use of a tool.
10 . The external fixation system of claim 1 , wherein the bone fixation member comprises a bone pin or a bone screw.
11 . The external fixation system of claim 1 , further comprising a removable handle assembly that extends from the substantially rigid frame member, the removable handle assembly being actuatable by a user to exert the force on the substantially rigid frame member.
12 . The external fixation system of claim 1 , wherein the clamping assembly further comprises a second opening for receiving and coupling to the substantially rigid frame member.
13 . The external fixation system of claim 1 , further comprising a second clamping assembly coupled to the polyaxially adjustable pivot housing, the second clamping assembly having an opening for receiving and coupling to the substantially rigid frame member.
14 . An external fixation system for reducing bone fragments, comprising:
a substantially rigid frame member at least partially surrounding a fractured bone;
a polyaxially adjustable pivot housing associated with the substantially rigid frame member, the polyaxially adjustable pivot housing being configured to cause the alignment of the bone fragments to be adjusted in response to a force exerted on the substantially rigid frame member;
a first clamping assembly coupled to the polyaxially adjustable pivot housing, the first clamping assembly having an opening for receiving and coupling to the substantially rigid frame member;
a second clamping assembly associated with the substantially rigid frame member, the second clamping assembly having at least one opening for receiving a bone fixation member that is configured to penetrate the fractured bone; and
a removable handle assembly extending from the substantially rigid frame member, the removable handle assembly being actuatable by a user to exert the force on the substantially rigid frame member.
15 . The external fixation system of claim 14 , wherein the substantially rigid frame member comprises a u-shaped ring frame.
16 . The external fixation system of claim 14 , wherein the substantially rigid frame member comprises a first substantially rigid frame member and a second substantially rigid frame member, the first and second substantially rigid frame members being connected by a support arm.
17 . The external fixation system of claim 16 , wherein the support arm is an incrementally adjustable ratcheting strut.
18 . The external fixation system of claim 16 , wherein the polyaxially adjustable pivot housing is coupled to a first end of the support arm.
19 . The external fixation system of claim 18 , further comprising a second polyaxially adjustable pivot housing coupled to a second end of the support arm.
20 . The external fixation system of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first clamping assembly, the second clamping assembly and the polyaxially adjustable pivot housing includes a provisional locking feature that allows the alignment of the bone fragments to be slightly adjusted by overcoming a friction fit that is caused by compressive forces and soft tissue tension, the provisional locking feature being actuatable without the use of a tool.
21 . The external fixation system of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first clamping assembly, the second clamping assembly and the polyaxially adjustable pivot housing includes a definitive locking feature that allows the bone fragments to be secured in a defined alignment orientation, the definitive locking feature being manually actuatable between a locked position and an unlocked position without the use of a tool.
22 . The external fixation system of claim 14 , wherein the bone fixation member comprises a bone pin or a bone screw.
23 . The external fixation system of claim 14 , wherein the second clamping assembly further comprises a second opening for receiving and coupling to the substantially rigid frame member.
24 . A method of reducing bone fragments with an external fixation system, the method comprising the steps of:
anchoring a bone fixation member to a fractured bone;
clamping a substantially rigid frame member to the bone fixation member, the substantially rigid frame member including a pair of ring frames connected by a support arm having a first end coupled to first polyaxially adjustable pivot housing and a second end coupled to a second polyaxially adjustable pivot housing;
provisionally locking, without the use of a tool, at least one of the first and second polyaxially adjustable pivot housings, the provisional locking being achieved by a friction fit caused by compressive forces and soft tissue tension exerted on the at least one of the first and second polyaxially adjustable pivot housings;
adjusting the alignment of the bone fragments by exerting a force on the substantially rigid frame member, the force being sufficient to overcome the friction fit; and
securing the alignment of the bone fragments by definitively locking, without the use of a tool, at least one of the first and second polyaxially adjustable pivot housings.
25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the step of anchoring the bone fixation member to the fractured bone comprises penetrating the fractured bone with a bone pin or a bone screw.
26 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the step of adjusting the alignment of the bone fragments comprises moving the substantially rigid frame member with a removable handle assembly.
27 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising the step of exposing at least a portion of the substantially rigid frame member to a radiation field as the substantially rigid frame member is moved with the removable handle assembly, wherein the removable handle assembly is outside of the radiation field as the frame member is moved.
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the step of exposing at least a portion of the substantially rigid frame member to a radiation field comprises exposing at least a portion of the frame member to a C-arm X-ray imaging device.
29 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the step of securing the alignment of the bone fragments comprises manually actuating a cam lock assembly on at least one of the first and second polyaxially adjustable pivot housings to achieve the definitive lock.