Sub-trochanteric nail
First Claim
1. A sub-trochanteric fracture appliance for use in a surgical procedure for stabilizing the trochanter and distal portions of a fractured upper thighbone, the appliance including a crosspiece that may be assembled in combination with a universal right and left handed femoral nail, the nail being adapted for insertion in the medullary canal of the thighbone to extend from the trochanter into the distal portion of the bone and the crosspiece extending across the trochanter and into the neck and femoral head thereof, comprising a cylindrical femoral nail adapted to be inserted to extend for a substantial distance from the greater trochanter through the medullary canal into a distal portion of a fractured thighbone, said femoral nail having a narrow longitudinally extending slot near one end thereof defined by top and bottom walls and longitudinally aligned arcuate side walls, said slot being positioned lengthwise of said femoral nail to be situated opposite the femoral head of the thighbone when said nail is positioned in said trochanter and medullary canal with said slot traversing a portion of said trochanter, an elongated flat spirally designed crosspiece having a cross sectional shape that has an area of a size to just neatly fill the open area constituting said slot, said spiral of said crosspiece having a pitch in the order of one revolution in an 8-inch length, said crosspiece having a length equal to about 1/4 a full twist of the spiral and being adapted to be inserted in said slot to be driven therethrough to extend through the neck of the femur and have one end firmly seated in said slot and its other end positioned generally horizontally and lodged in the femoral head of the thighbone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical appliance for stabilizing a fractured thighbone is shown having a femoral nail for insertion in the medullary canal and a crosspiece supported at one end in a slot that extends longitudinally lengthwise in the femoral nail, the other end of the crosspiece being bedded in the femoral head. The crosspiece is formed as a flat, spirally shaped element that slides through the slot in the femoral nail when it is seated in the medullary canal and the fracture has been reduced, the leading end of the crosspiece being driven through the neck and into the femoral head. The assembled nail and crosspiece arrangement provides a rigid elongated cross sectional area of the crosspiece supported in the slot in the femoral nail and a flat leading end that serves as a bearing surface in the femoral head that is turned at about a right angle with respect to the slot in the nail whereby to minimize cutting out of the leading end of the crosspiece through the wall of the femoral head. The crosspiece and the femoral nail may both be cannulated to simplify the process of insertion and the femoral nail may be curved slightly to match the normal anterior bow of the thighbone.
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Citations
10 Claims
- 1. A sub-trochanteric fracture appliance for use in a surgical procedure for stabilizing the trochanter and distal portions of a fractured upper thighbone, the appliance including a crosspiece that may be assembled in combination with a universal right and left handed femoral nail, the nail being adapted for insertion in the medullary canal of the thighbone to extend from the trochanter into the distal portion of the bone and the crosspiece extending across the trochanter and into the neck and femoral head thereof, comprising a cylindrical femoral nail adapted to be inserted to extend for a substantial distance from the greater trochanter through the medullary canal into a distal portion of a fractured thighbone, said femoral nail having a narrow longitudinally extending slot near one end thereof defined by top and bottom walls and longitudinally aligned arcuate side walls, said slot being positioned lengthwise of said femoral nail to be situated opposite the femoral head of the thighbone when said nail is positioned in said trochanter and medullary canal with said slot traversing a portion of said trochanter, an elongated flat spirally designed crosspiece having a cross sectional shape that has an area of a size to just neatly fill the open area constituting said slot, said spiral of said crosspiece having a pitch in the order of one revolution in an 8-inch length, said crosspiece having a length equal to about 1/4 a full twist of the spiral and being adapted to be inserted in said slot to be driven therethrough to extend through the neck of the femur and have one end firmly seated in said slot and its other end positioned generally horizontally and lodged in the femoral head of the thighbone.
Specification