Method and apparatus for distracting a joint, including the provision and use of a novel joint-spacing balloon catheter and a novel inflatable perineal post

摘要

A method for creating space in a joint, the method comprising:
applying force to a body part so as to distract the joint and create an intrajoint space;inserting an expandable member into the intrajoint space while the expandable member is in a contracted condition;expanding the expandable member within the intrajoint space; andreducing the force applied to the body part so that the joint is supported on the expandable member.

主权项

1. A method for creating space in a joint of a limb, the method comprising: applying force to the limb at a location remote from the joint so as to fully distract the joint and create an intrajoint space; while the joint is fully distracted by the force applied to the limb at a location remote from the joint so as to create the intrajoint space, inserting an expandable member into the intrajoint space, the expandable member being inserted into the intrajoint space while the expandable member is in a contracted condition; while the joint is fully distracted by the force applied to the limb at a location remote from the joint so as to create the intrajoint space, expanding the expandable member within the intrajoint space; and reducing the force applied to the limb at a location remote from the joint so that the joint is maintained in a distracted condition by the expandable member, wherein the joint is a hip joint and the limb at a location remote from the joint is a leg.