Osteochondral repair using plug fashioned from partial distal allograft femur or condyle

• US 20060060209A1
• Filed: 09/23/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Inventors: Shepard, David O.
• Granted Patent: US 8,043,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1604 Chisels; Rongeurs; Punches; Stamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1635 for grafts, harvesting or transplants
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1637 Hollow drills or saws producing a curved cut, e.g. cylindrical A61B10/025, A61B17/1695 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1675 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00969 used for transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth

Abstract

A method and apparatus for repairing isolated chondral defects using allograft implants. Lesions in articular tissue are corrected by forming a recipient socket in the tissue. A donor graft of a size corresponding to the recipient socket is harvested from a partial tissue specimen obtained from allograft material. The donor graft is implanted into the recipient socket.

Claims

1. A method of repairing isolated chondral defects, comprising:

forming a recipient socket in anatomical tissue;

harvesting a donor graft from an allograft partial specimen; and

implanting the donor graft in the recipient socket.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the allograft partial specimen closely approximates the shape of the anatomical tissue, and the donor graft is harvested from the allograft specimen in the form of a plug corresponding in shape to the recipient socket formed in the anatomical tissue.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the anatomical tissue is condylar, and wherein the donor graft is harvested from an allograft specimen comprising an allograft condyle substance in the shape of a partial condyle.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising securing the partial condyle in a workstation and cutting the donor graft from the partial condyle using a coring reamer.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the allograft specimen is formed as one of a three-cut partial or a four-cut partial.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the recipient socket is formed in an articular surface.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the socket is formed by scoring peripheral cartilage on the articular surface to underlying subchondral bone, and boring a counterbore in the subchondral bone.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising dilating the recipient socket.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of forming a recipient socket includes determining a size of a lesion to be repaired.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising marking the size of the lesion on a surface of the anatomical tissue, and providing a reference mark on the surface.

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising providing a corresponding reference mark on a surface of the donor graft.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein implanting the donor graft in the recipient socket includes aligning reference marks formed at the recipient socket and on the donor graft, and impacting the donor graft into the recipient socket.

13. A method according to claim 1, further comprising cutting the donor graft to achieve a length equal to a depth of the recipient socket.

14. A surgical apparatus for repairing isolated chondral defects comprising:

surgical instruments for forming a recipient socket in anatomical tissue;

a partial allograft tissue specimen; and

surgical instruments for obtaining a donor graft from the allograft tissue specimen.

15. A surgical apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the allograft tissue specimen is provided in the shape of an partial condyle.

16. A surgical apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the partial condyle is formed as one of a three-cut condyle or a four-cut condyle.

17. A surgical apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the surgical instruments for forming a recipient socket in anatomical tissue include a lesion sizer, a harvester having a smooth cutting edge, and a counterbore.

18. A surgical apparatus according to claim 17, further including a dilator.

19. A surgical apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the surgical instruments for obtaining a donor graft from the allograft anatomical tissue specimen include a workstation, a bushing held by the workstation, and a coring saw fitting within the bushing for cutting a cylindrical donor graft.

20. A surgical apparatus according to claim 19, further including forceps for holding the donor graft, and a reciprocating saw for cutting the donor graft to length.

21. A method of harvesting partial tissue specimens, the method comprising steps of:

obtaining an allograft distal femur;

cutting the distal femur into sections.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the distal femur is cut into three sections to achieve two partial condyles and a trochlea.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the distal femur is cut into four sections to achieve two condylar portions and two trochlear portions.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of sizing the condylar portions to indicate the largest single plug that can be obtained from each condylar portion.