Tibiotalar arthrodesis guide

摘要

A Tibiotalar Arthrodesis Guide (TAG) used for fusion of the talus to the tibia is comprised of several basic components. The main component is a straight guide post upon which other components can slide. A curved arm is featured at the end of the straight guide post, featuring points at the ends which serve as indicators of the pins' exit sites based upon the lines of action of the parallel pins. The parallel guide cylinders are positioned on a movable arm which translates superiorly and inferiorly on the guide post of the handle, allowing a surgeon to adjust the device for varying ankle sizes. A “home-run” pin guide cylinder for a home-run guide pin is oriented superiorly and at an angle to the parallel guide cylinders. Using a similar concept as the parallel guide cylinders, the “home-run” guide is also attached to a movable arm that can translate inferiorly and superiorly along the main guide post. A medial guide cylinder for a medial guide pin passes through one of a plurality of holes in a vertical guide arm. The surgeon has the flexibility to utilize either the “home-run” or medial pins, depending on the needs of the patient and preference of the surgeon and, in either case, the “home-run” and medial pin pass between the two parallel pins.

主权项

1. A Tibiotalar Arthrodesis Guide (TAG) device used for fusion of the talus to the tibia comprising:
a straight guide post upon which other components can slide; a curved arm having a pair of points which serve as indicators of pin exit sites; first and second pin guide cylinders parallel to one another and held by an arm which is perpendicular to the straight guide post, the arm, in turn, being fixed to a movable slide which translates along the straight guide post, allowing a surgeon to adjust the device for varying ankle sizes; a third pin guide cylinder oriented at an angle with respect to the first and second pin guide cylinders such that first and second pins inserted into each of the first and second pin guide cylinders and a third pin inserted into the third pin guide cylinder do not touch one another when inserted into the ankle, whereby the TAG device ensures that a screw successfully inserted with the aid of the third pin passes in between two parallel screws previously inserted with the aid of the first and second pins without touching the two parallel screws, enabling the orientation of three screws across the joint for superior stability without interfering with each other.