Radial Head Fracture Treatment System
A system and methods are provided for treating radial head fractures. The system includes an implant, a sterile instrument kit for radial head arthroplasty, and a head sizer and assembly tray for sizing and assembling implants. The implant includes a head that is coupled with a stem. The head is adapted to be placed into sliding contact with a capitellum of the radiocapitellar joint. The stem is configured to be inserted into a hole reamed into a medullary canal of the radial head. The sterile instrument kit comprises a multiplicity of instruments including any one or more of trial heads and trial stems, a starter awl, a reamer, a planar, an inserter cap, and an impactor. The instruments are configured for implanting the implant into the radiocapitellar joint such that the implant restores biomechanical properties of the joint.
1 - 25 . (canceled)
26 . The implant of claim 26 , An implant for radial head arthroplasty, comprising:
a stem for insertion into a medullary canal of a radial head; and
a head for contacting a capitellum comprising a radiocapitellar joint.
27 . The implant of claim 26 , wherein one or more of the head and the stem comprise a rigid biocompatible material.
28 . The implant of claim 26 , wherein the head comprises a cylindrical member having a rounded periphery comprising a smooth surface for contacting bone and tissues surrounding the radiocapitellar joint.
29 . The implant of claim 26 , wherein the head includes a contact surface adapted to be placed into sliding contact with the capitellum.
30 . The implant of claim 26 , wherein the head includes a tapered bore for fixedly receiving a tapered shank comprising the stem.
31 . The implant of claim 30 , wherein the tapered bore is substantially concentric with the head.
32 . The implant of claim 26 , wherein the stem comprises an elongate member extending from a truncated end of a tapered shank to a tapered tip.
33 . The implant of claim 26 , wherein the stem is configured to be inserted into a hole reamed into the medullary canal.
34 . The implant of claim 33 , wherein the hole can be formed by way of a reamer comprising a proximal handle coupled with a shaft that terminates at a distal cutting teeth area that is configured to use during a radial head arthroplasty.
35 . The implant of claim 34 , wherein the proximal handle comprises a biocompatible plastic that is injection molded onto the shaft during manufacturing the reamer.
36 . The implant of claim 33 , wherein the stem includes a tapered shank configured to be fixated within a tapered bore disposed in the head.
37 . The implant of claim 36 , wherein the tapered shank is configured to be fixated in the tapered bore by way of an impactor and a mallet.
38 . The implant of claim 33 , wherein the stem includes a tapered tip to facilitate inserting the stem into the hole in the medullary canal.
39 . The implant of claim 38 , wherein the tapered tip includes smooth edges that facilitate inserting the stem into the hole in the medullary canal.
40 . The implant of claim 26 , wherein the head and the stem are configured to be implanted into the radiocapitellar joint to treat a radial neck fracture and restore biomechanical properties of the radiocapitellar joint.
41 . The implant of claim 26 , wherein the stem is configured to be inserted into a radial neck after resection of the radial head to mount the head onto the radius.
42 . The implant of claim 41 , wherein an inserter cap is configured to be coupled with a planar for pushing the stem into a hole reamed into the medullary canal of the radial neck.
43 . The implant of claim 42 , wherein the inserter cap comprises a central hole to receive a distal stem of the planar and a smooth distal surface for pushing the head.
44 . The implant of claim 26 , wherein the head is configured to be positioned adjacent to the ulna and enable articulation between the humerus and the radius.
45 . The implant of claim 26 , wherein the head includes a contact surface that facilitates smooth articulation with the capitellum.