Intramedullary arthrodesis nail and method of use

摘要

A device is provided including a distal nail portion and a proximal nail portion that can be connected to each other to attain a rigid configuration. The device is placed internally within the medullary cavities of at least two bones forming a joint to accomplish arthrodesis of the joint. The device is placed intramedullarily to minimize incision size, excessive bone resection and post-operative tendon damage and tenderness. Additionally, a method for using the device is provided that includes placing and affixing the distal nail in a bone of a joint, placing the proximal nail in another bone of a joint, connecting the distal nail to the proximal nail, doing the desired geometrical adjustments, affixing the proximal nail to the distal nail by tightening the connection and affixing the proximal nail to the other bone of the joint to attain a rigid configuration.

主权项

1. An intramedullary arthrodesis nail comprising:
a distal nail portion; a proximal nail portion, separate from said distal nail portion; at least one of said proximal nail portion and said distal nail portion including at least one longitudinal slot therethrough configured to receive a fastener into the slot from the top of the slot for fastening said nail portion to a bone of a joint, said fastener having a thread defining a shape and a pitch, and said at least one longitudinal slot including two opposing, grooved parallel side walls and two unthreaded end walls enclosing the slot at each end, the grooves on each of said parallel side walls having a shape and a pitch configured to match said shape and pitch of said fastener, all of said grooves being disposed parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the nail portion, and wherein the grooves on a first of said parallel side walls are vertically displaced one-half of said pitch relative to the grooves on the second, opposite, side wall; and a connector portion connectable between said distal nail portion and said proximal nail portion to fix the distal nail portion to the proximal nail portion.