Intra-osseous plate system and method
An intra-osseous support structure can be used to fixate opposed portions of bone. In some examples, the intra-osseous support structure is positioned in openings formed in adjacent portions of bones. Fasteners are inserted through the bone portions to secure the intra-osseous support structure in the bones. Depending on the application, one or more external bone plates may also be applied to the bone portions. The external bone plate may be in compression while the intra-osseous support structure is in tension under load in situ.
1. A method comprising:
performing an osteotomy on a metatarsal to separate the metatarsal into a first metatarsal portion and a second metatarsal portion;
adjusting an alignment of the first metatarsal portion relative to the second metatarsal portion;
placing a first portion of an intra-osseous support structure in the first metatarsal portion, wherein the intra-osseous support structure comprise a plate having a first major surface, a second major surface, and perimeter edge extending between the first major surface and the second major surface, and placing the first portion of the intra-osseous support structure in the first metatarsal portion comprises positioning the first portion of the intra-osseous support structure within an intra-osseous region of the first metatarsal portion with the first major surface and the second major surface each facing cancellous bone of the first metatarsal portion; and
connecting a second portion of the intra-osseous support structure to the second metatarsal portion using at least one fastener.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein connecting the second portion of the intra-osseous support structure to the second metatarsal portion comprises inserting a screw through an outer surface of the second metatarsal portion.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising forming a hole in the second metatarsal portion from the outer surface toward an opposite surface, wherein inserting the screw through the outer surface of the second metatarsal portion comprises inserting the screw into the hole.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second portion of the intra-osseous support structure comprises a threaded aperture, and inserting the screw through the outer surface of the second metatarsal portion comprises inserting the screw into the threaded aperture.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein connecting the second portion of the intra-osseous support structure to the second metatarsal portion using at least one fastener comprises inserting the at least one fastener through a thickness of the second metatarsal portion less than an entire thickness of the second metatarsal portion.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the thickness of the second metatarsal portion is within a range from one-half to two-thirds of the entire thickness of the second metatarsal portion.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising inserting a fastener into the first portion of the intra-osseous support structure.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein inserting the fastener into the first portion of the intra-osseous support structure comprises inserting the fastener through an outer surface of the first metatarsal portion.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein inserting the fastener through the outer surface of the first metatarsal portion comprises engaging the fastener with the intra-osseous support structure in the first metatarsal portion.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein inserting the fastener into the first portion of the intra-osseous support structure comprises inserting the fastener through a thickness of the first metatarsal portion less than an entire thickness of the first metatarsal portion.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the fastener comprises a first fastener, and further comprising inserting a second fastener into the first portion of the intra-osseous support structure.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising placing the second portion of the intra-osseous support structure in the second metatarsal portion.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising forming an opening in the second metatarsal portion, wherein placing the second portion of the intra-osseous support structure in the second metatarsal portion comprises placing the second portion of the intra-osseous support structure in the opening in the second metatarsal portion.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein placing the first portion of the intra-osseous support structure in the first metatarsal portion and connecting the second portion of the intra-osseous support structure to the second metatarsal portion comprises fusing the first metatarsal portion to the second metatarsal portion.
15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming an opening in the intra-osseous region of the first metatarsal portion, wherein placing the first portion of the intra-osseous support structure in the first metatarsal portion comprises placing the first portion of the intra-osseous support structure in the opening in the first metatarsal portion.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener comprises two fasteners, and connecting the second portion of the intra-osseous support structure to the second metatarsal portion using at least one fastener comprises connecting the second portion of the intra-osseous support structure to the second metatarsal portion using two fasteners.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metatarsal is a first metatarsal.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intra-osseous support structure is planar.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intra-osseous support structure includes one portion that curves and/or extends from a side relative to an other portion.
20. A method comprising:
performing an osteotomy on a metatarsal to separate the metatarsal into a first metatarsal portion and a second metatarsal portion;
adjusting an alignment of the first metatarsal portion relative to the second metatarsal portion; and
fixating the first metatarsal portion relative to the second metatarsal portion for fusion using a structure that includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion comprising a plate having a first major surface, a second major surface, and perimeter edge extending between the first major surface and the second major surface, the first portion being configured to be positioned intra-osseously, and the second portion including at least one aperture extending through a thickness of the structure configured to receive a screw, wherein fixating the first metatarsal portion relative to the second metatarsal portion comprises inserting the first portion of the structure within an intra-osseous region of the first metatarsal portion with the first major surface and the second major surface each facing cancellous bone of the first metatarsal portion and screwing at least one screw into the at least one aperture of the second portion of the structure and into the second metatarsal portion.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the at least one aperture comprises a threaded aperture, and screwing at least one screw into the at least one aperture of the second portion of the structure comprises screwing at least one screw into the threaded aperture of the second portion of the structure.
22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the at least one aperture comprises two apertures and the at least one screw comprises two screws, and screwing at least one screw into the at least one aperture of the second portion of the structure and into the second metatarsal portion comprises screwing two screws into the two apertures of the second portion of the structure and into the second metatarsal portion.
23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the first portion comprises at least one aperture configured to receive a screw, and further comprising screwing at least one screw into the at least one aperture of the first portion of the structure positioned within the first metatarsal portion.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the first portion comprises two apertures, and screwing at least one screw into the at least one aperture of the first portion of the structure positioned within the first metatarsal portion comprises screwing a screw into each of the two apertures of the first portion of the structure positioned within the first metatarsal portion.
25. The method of claim 20 , wherein the metatarsal is a first metatarsal.