FIXATOR WITH OUTRIGGER

• US 20030225405A1
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Millennium Medical Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Millennium Medical Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Weiner, Lon S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,652,524 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/6425 specially adapted to be fitted across a bone joint

Abstract

An external fixator includes a main body and an outrigger for extending over a fractured joint, such as a wrist joint. The main body can be positioned next to a right arm, or flipped over and positioned next to a left arm. The outrigger is attachable to extend either to the left or to the right of the main body, as appropriate. A distal body is removeably connectable to the distal end of the main body, and the distal body can be affixed to bone on the opposite side of the fracture to immobilize the joint where the fracture occurs. The distal body is connected to the main body with an adjustable securement section which provides six degrees of adjustment freedom. The outrigger is attached to the main body through a slide plate in a dual rail configuration which provides two dimensions of adjustment. Fragment pin supports ride in a track of the outrigger, and provide seven degrees of adjustment freedom for directed fixation of fragments at the fracture site. The major components of the fixator are molded of plastic. A surgical technique using the fixator includes immobilizing the joint for an initial healing duration and retaining fragment pins in place during a secondary healing duration.

Claims

1. An external fixator for a bone fracture immediately adjacent a joint between a long bone and a second bone, the external fixator comprising:

a main body adapted for external fixation to the long bone, the main body extending along a longitudinal axis generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the long bone;

an outrigger connected to the main body for extending over the joint and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main body, the outrigger defining a track having a sliding recess;

at least one bone fastener support riding in the sliding recess of the track.

2. The external fixator of claim 1, wherein the outrigger is connected to the main body by a rail structure, the rail structure comprising:

a first rail extending in a first dimension and slidably received in a mating first recess; and

a first securement for securing the first rail relative to the first recess.

3. The external fixator of claim 2, wherein the rail structure is a dual rail structure, the dual rail structure further comprising:

a second rail extending in a second dimension at an angle to the first dimension, the second rail being slidably received in a mating second recess; and

a second securement for securing the second rail relative to the second recess.

4. The external fixator of claim 3, wherein the first and second rails are dovetail rails having a head and a neck which is narrower in cross-section than the head.

5. The external fixator of claim 2, wherein the first rail extends from a rail support plate, and wherein the first recess is defined in a recess plate, wherein the rail support plate abuts the recess plate on both opposing sides of the first rail such that the abutting rail support plate and recess plate stabilizes the outrigger relative to the main body.

6. The external fixator of claim 1, wherein the main body and the outrigger are formed of plastic.

7. The external fixator of claim 1, further comprising:

a joint fixation body adapted for fixation to the second bone; and

a securable adjustment segment connecting the main body to the joint fixation body, the securable adjustment segment having an unsecured state allowing movement of the main body relative to the joint fixation body and a secured state preventing movement of the main body relative to the joint fixation body such that the external fixator secures the joint in a fixed position, the securable adjustment segment being further adapted for removal of the joint fixation body from the external fixator.

8. The external fixator of claim 7, wherein the securable adjustment segment allows longitudinal adjustment of the joint fixation body relative to the main body.

9. The external fixator of claim 7, wherein the securable adjustment segment allows angular pivoting adjustment of the joint fixation body relative to the main body.

10. The external fixator of claim 1, wherein the main body adapted for external fixation to a radius, with the outrigger connected to the main body for extending over the wrist joint between the radius and a metacarpal for treatment of a Colles'"'"' fracture.

11. The external fixator of claim 1, wherein the outrigger is secureable to the main body at a first position wherein the outrigger extends over the long bone to the right of the main body and a second position wherein the outrigger extends over the long bone to the left of the main body.

12. The external fixator of claim 1, wherein the sliding recess has an open end permitting removal of the bone fastener support from the track.

13. The external fixator of claim 1, wherein the track extends generally linearly at an angle of from 98 °

to 115°

relative to the longitudinal axis of the main body.

14. An external fixator for a bone fracture immediately adjacent a joint between a long bone and a second bone, the external fixator comprising:

a main body adapted for external fixation to the long bone, the main body defining a longitudinal axis generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the long bone;

an outrigger connected to the main body for extending over the joint between the long bone and the second bone and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main body, the outrigger being secureable to the main body at various positions relative to the main body; and

a joint fixation body adapted for external fixation to the second bone;

a secureable joint connecting the main body to the joint fixation body, the secureable joint having an unsecured state allowing movement of the main body relative to the joint fixation body and a secured state preventing movement of the main body relative to the joint fixation body, the secureable joint being further adapted for removal of the joint fixation body from the external fixator.

15. The external fixator of claim 14, wherein the main body comprises a plurality of clamp openings securable to bone fasteners fastened into the long bone, and wherein the joint fixation body comprises a plurality of clamp openings securable to bone fasteners fastened into the second bone.

16. An external fixator for a bone fracture immediately adjacent a joint between a long bone and a second bone, the external fixator comprising:

a main body adapted for external fixation to the long bone, the main body defining a longitudinal axis generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the long bone, the main body having a proximal section adapted for fixation to the long bone and a distal section;

an outrigger connectable to the distal section of the main body, the outrigger extending generally over the joint between the long bone and the second bone in a plane which also extends over the longitudinal axis of the main body, the outrigger being secureable to the main body at various positions relative to the main body including a first position wherein the outrigger extends to the right of the main body and a second position wherein the outrigger extends to the left of the main body.

17. The external fixator of claim 16, wherein the main body has an inner side for positioning toward the long bone and an outer side for positioning away from the fractured bone, with the outrigger being solely connectable to inner side of the main body in either of two opposing orientations which define the first position and the second position, with the main body being rotatable 180°

about its longitudinal axis to change between the first position and orientation wherein the outrigger extends to the right of the main body and the second position and orientation wherein the outrigger extends to the left of the main body.

18. The external fixator of claim 16, further comprising:

a bone fastener support attachable to the outrigger; and

wherein the outrigger comprises a first section for use in holding the bone fastener support such that the bone fastener support extends distally when the outrigger extends to the right of the main body and a second section for use in holding the bone fastener support such that the bone fastener support extends distally when the outrigger extends to the left of the main body.

19. The external fixator of claim 18, wherein the first section and the second section each comprise a track, the tracks joining at a common end point extended away from the main body.

20. An external fixator for a bone fracture immediately adjacent a joint between a long bone and a second bone, the external fixator comprising:

a main body adapted for external fixation to the long bone, the main body extending along a longitudinal axis generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the long bone;

an outrigger connected to the main body for extending over the joint between the long bone and the second bone and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main body, the outrigger being adjustable in at least two dimensions relative to the main body, the outrigger being secureable to the main body in a selected position.

21. An external fixator for a bone fracture immediately adjacent a joint between a first long bone having a first long bone longitudinal axis and a second long bone having a second long bone longitudinal axis, the external fixator comprising:

a first rigid body defining a longitudinal axis, the first rigid body adapted for external fixation to the first long bone such that the longitudinal axis of the first rigid body extends generally parallel to the first long bone longitudinal axis;

a second rigid body defining a longitudinal axis, the second rigid body adapted for external fixation to the second long bone such that the longitudinal axis of the second rigid body extends generally parallel to the second long bone longitudinal axis;

a secureable joint connecting the first rigid body to the second rigid body, the secureable joint having an unsecured state allowing pivoting movement of the first rigid body relative to the second rigid body and a secured state preventing movement of the first rigid body relative to the second rigid body;

an outrigger connected to the first rigid body for extending over the joint between the first long bone and the second bone and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first rigid body, the outrigger being secureable to the first rigid body at various positions relative to the first rigid body; and

at least one stake support extending from the outrigger, the stake support being adjustable between various positions relative to the outrigger to hold a stake into the joint at an incline relative to the first long bone longitudinal axis;

wherein the first rigid body, the second rigid body, the secureable joint, the outrigger and the stake support are formed of plastic.

22. An external fixator for a bone fracture immediately adjacent a joint between a long bone and a second bone, the external fixator comprising:

a main body adapted for external fixation to the long bone, the main body extending along a longitudinal axis generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the long bone;

an outrigger connected to the main body for extending over the joint and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main body;

at least one bone fastener support attached to the outrigger for supporting a bone fastener relative to the outrigger and into the joint, the bone fastener support providing at least three degrees of securable adjustment freedom for the bone fastener with respect to the outrigger.

23. The external fixator of claim 22, wherein the bone fastener support provides seven degrees of securable adjustment freedom for the bone fastener with respect to the outrigger.

24. An external fixator for a bone fracture immediately adjacent a joint between a long bone and a second bone, the external fixator comprising:

a main body adapted for external fixation to the long bone, the main body extending along a longitudinal axis generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the long bone;

a distal body adapted for external fixation to the second bone; and

a securable adjustment segment attaching the distal body to the main body, the securable adjustment segment providing at least two degrees of securable adjustment freedom for the distal body with respect to the main body.

25. The external fixator of claim 24, where in the bone fastener support provides four degrees of securable adjustment freedom for the distal body with respect to the main body.

26. A method of repairing a fractured wrist, comprising:

performing a fixation surgery comprising;

placing a plurality of radius pins of an external fixator assembly transversely into a radius proximally of the fracture, the external fixator assembly comprising;

a support structure extending generally parallel to the radius and perpendicular to the radius pins, the support structure having a proximal section which releasably holds the plurality of radius pins, the support structure having a mid-section and a distal section;

an outrigger extending generally transversely from the mid-section of the support structure, the outrigger having at least one fragment pin releasably attachable thereto; and

a plurality of metacarpal pins releasably held by the distal section of the support structure;

securing the radius pins relative to the support structure, thereby fixing the support structure relative to the radius;

placing the plurality of metacarpal pins transversely into a metacarpal;

securing the metacarpal pins relative to the support structure, such that the external fixator assembly fixes the metacarpal relative to the radius;

placing the fragment pin into a radial bone fragment; and

securing the fragment pin relative to the outrigger;

after an initial healing duration, performing a wrist-release surgery, comprising;

removing the metacarpal pins from the metacarpal, thereby permitting at least a limited degree of wrist flexation; and

after a secondary healing duration, performing an external fixator removal surgery, comprising;

removing the radius pins from the radius; and

removing the cross-fracture pin from the radius.