Method of compressing and realigning bone structures to correct splay foot

• US 4,159,716 A
• Filed: 10/17/1977
• Issued: 07/03/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clinton H. Borchers
• Original Assignee: Clinton H. Borchers
• Inventors: Borchers, Clinton H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frinks, Ronald L.
• Application Number:
  US05/842,625
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 128/69, 128/77, 128/80 R, 128/83, 128/84 R, 128/84 B, 128/92 R, 128/92 A, 128/92 E, 128/92 EA, 128/92 EB
• US Class Current: 606/96
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1675 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1682 for the foot or ankle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1686 for the hand or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1697 specially adapted for wire insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1775 for the foot or ankle

Abstract

Apparatus and method for compression and realignment of animal bone structures and passage of a drill pin therethrough to retain them in a desired alignment. The apparatus comprises a rigid U-shaped jig having a threaded aperture adjacent the end of one leg and an unthreaded aperture adjacent the end of the other leg thereof, the apertures being axially aligned; a threaded adjustment screw engaged in the threaded aperture and movable toward the other leg upon rotation; a cylindrical bushing slidably engaged in the unthreaded aperture having a threaded axial passage therethrough; means for clamping the bushing in a desired position of adjustment; a threaded drill pin engaged in the passage in the bushing and movable toward the one leg upon rotation; and means for rotating the drill pin thereby piercing and traversing the bone structures and holding them in a desired position of alignment. Correction of splay foot deformity and other surgery of the human foot, hand and knee can thus be effected.

Claims

1. A method of compressing and realigning animal bone structures and passing a drill pin therethrough to retain said structures in a desired alignment, as applied to the correction of splay foot deformity in the human foot, comprising the steps of aligning two adjustable members on opposite sides of said bone structures of said human foot, one of said members being aligned on the medial side of the first metatarsal shank and the other of said members being aligned on the lateral side of the fifth metatarsal head, moving said members inwardly toward and in axial alignment with one another, thereby compressing and realigning said bone structures, clamping said members in relatively immovable positions, inserting a threaded drill pin through an axial passage in one of said members, advancing said drill pin by rotation thereof through said passage toward the other of said members and in axial alignment therewith through said fifth metatarsal head, under the fourth, third and second metatarsal shafts successively, and into said first metatarsal shank, thereby causing said drill pin to pierce and traverse said bone structures, stopping the advance of said drill pin when the end thereof has penetrated the interior of the most remote therefrom of the bone structures, and severing said drill pin at its point of entry into said fifth metatarsal head, the closest thereto of the bone structures, whereby a portion of said drill pin interconnects said most remote and closest bone structures to hold them in a desired relatively compressed alignment.