Surgical implantable stabilizer sling for basal joint arthroplasty
The concepts disclosed herein offer a new simple and reliable reconstructive option for the treatment of first carpal-metacarpal joint (basal joint) arthritis and consists of an intra-articular basal joint stabilizer sling combined with a surgical method of implantation.
1. A method for performing basal joint arthroplasty, the method comprising:
providing an implantable sling, the implantable sling comprising:
a central section, a first suture attached to said central section, and a second suture attached to said central section;
a first suture anchor attached to said first suture and configured for disposition in an index metacarpal at a first attachment point; and
a second suture anchor attached to said second suture and configured for disposition in a thumb metacarpal at a second attachment point;
creating an access portal for performing a basal joint arthroplasty;
performing a trapeziectomy to create an arthroplasty space;
positioning said central section in said arthroplasty space across at least a portion of a base of the thumb metacarpal of a patient;
disposing said first anchor in the index metacarpal;
disposing said second anchor in the thumb metacarpal;
tensioning said second suture so as to draw said central section tightly across at least a portion of the base of the thumb metacarpal of a patient;
securing said second suture to said second anchor; and
repairing the portal.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said first suture and said second suture is a long lasting absorbable suture.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said central section has a configuration selected from the group consisting of quadrilateral, elliptical and polygonal.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the central section is made from a terminally sterile material.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said central section comprises biologic material.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said central section comprises porous material.
7. The method according to claim 1 wherein said central section comprises non-porous material.
8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the central section comprises a combination of materials including a long lasting absorbable weave.
9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the trapeziectomy is an entire trapeziectomy.
10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the portal is created by way of a Wagner incision.
11. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of performing a suture suspension arthroplasty just proximal to the implantable sling.
12. The method according to claim 1 further comprising forming a hole in the thumb metacarpal prior to disposing said second anchor in the thumb metacarpal.
13. The method according to claim 1 wherein the trapeziectomy is a partial trapeziectomy.
14. The method according to claim 1 wherein tensioning comprises drawing the central section towards the index metacarpal.