Method of performing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using biodegradable interference screw

1. A method of manufacturing, comprising:

introducing a dry bioceramic and a dry biodegradable polymer including poly(lactic acid) and poly(glycolic acid) into an extruder;

blending the dry biodegradable polymer and the dry bioceramic in the extruder to form a composite; and

molding the composite to form a surgical screw having a thread on an exterior surface thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising heating the dry biodegradable polymer and the dry bioceramic in the extruder.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising cooling the composite before the molding of the composite.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising creating pellets of the composite before the molding of the composite;

wherein molding the composite includes molding the pellets.

5. A surgical apparatus, comprising:

a bioabsorable screw made from a bioceramic and a bioabsorbable copolymer including poly(lactic acid) and poly(glycolic acid), the screw being formed by the method of claim 1 .

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the screw is bioabsorbable.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the screw is cannulated.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the bioceramic comprises a bioceramic selected from the group consisting of mono-, di-, tri, [alpha]-tri-, [beta]-tri and tetra-calcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, calcium sulfates, calcium oxides, calcium carbonate, and magnesium calcium phosphates.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the bioabsorbable copolymer comprises about 85 mole percent to about 95 mole percent of poly(lactic acid) and about 5 mole percent to about 15mole percent of poly(glycolic acid).

10. A surgical method, comprising:

introducing a graft into a bone; and

after introducing the graft, inserting a screw into the bone such that an exterior surface feature of the screw penetrates into the bone, thereby securing the graft in a fixed position between the screw and the bone, the screw comprising poly(lactic acid), poly(glycolic acid), and a bioceramic.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising, before inserting the screw, mounting the graft to the bone.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising, before inserting the screw, mating a distal end of a driver tool to a proximal end of the screw;

wherein inserting the screw includes rotating the driver tool having the screw mated to the distal end thereof.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the exterior surface feature is a thread.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the screw is bioabsorbable.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the screw is cannulated.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the screw is bioabsorbable and is cannulated.

17. A surgical method, comprising:

forming a bone tunnel in bone;

securing a graft to the bone within the bone tunnel; and

rotating a screw into the bone tunnel such that the graft is pinned between the screw and a wall of the bone tunnel, the screw comprising poly(lactic acid), poly(glycolic acid), and a bioceramic.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein rotating the screw includes rotating a driver tool having the screw mounted on a distal end thereof.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the screw is threaded, cannulated, and bioabsorbable.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the bioceramic comprises a bioceramic selected from the group consisting of mono-, di-, tri, [alpha]-tri-, [beta]-tri and tetra-calcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, calcium sulfates, calcium oxides, calcium carbonate, and magnesium calcium phosphates; and

the copolymer comprises about 85 mole percent to about 95 mole percent of poly(lactic acid) and about 5 mole percent to about 15 mole percent of poly(glycolic acid).