Method of loading tendons into the knee

• US 6,371,124 B1
• Filed: 09/18/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Inventors: Whelan, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dinh X.
• Application Number:
  US09/663,798
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 128/898, 128/897, 606/72, 606/96, 606/98, 606/99, 623/11.11, 623/13.11, 623/18.11, 623/20.14
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/076 for removing surgical staples or wound clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1714 for applying tendons or ligaments implements for applying tendons or ligaments A61F2/0805
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1764 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8625 Shanks, i.e. parts contacting bone tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/863 with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/864 hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0648 threaded, e.g. tacks with a screw thread
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0805 Implements for inserting tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/38 for elbows or knees
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0841 Longitudinal channel for insertion tool running through the whole tendon anchor, e.g. for accommodating bone drill, guidewire
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0852 Fixation of a loop or U-turn, e.g. eyelets, anchor having multiple holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0882 Anchor in or on top of a bone tunnel, i.e. a hole running through the entire bone
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/908 Bioabsorbable material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/916 Tool for installing or removing orthopedic fastener

Abstract

A surgical method for loading ligament grafts into a joint. A longitudinal-socket formed in a bone is intersected by a transverse pin. A flexible strand is drawn with the pin through the bone. A looped portion of the strand is diverted so as to protrude out of the entrance to the longitudinal socket. The ends of the strand remaining accessible on either side of the bone. The ligament graft is captured within the strand loop protruding from the entrance to the socket. The strand is retracted into the socket, drawing the graft into the socket by pulling on the accessible ends of the flexible strand. The graft is fixed in the socket using a transverse implant.

Claims

1. A method of anterior cruciate reconstruction knee surgery, comprising the steps of:

forming a socket in a femur, the socket having an entrance;

forming a transverse hole in the femur extending completely across the femur, the transverse hole extending through a first sidewall of the socket on a first side of the femur, intersecting the socket, and extending through an opposite sidewall of the femur on the opposite side of the socket;

introducing a flexible strand into the knee, the flexible strand extending through the transverse hole and into the socket through the first sidewall of the socket, out through the socket entrance, and, after forming a loop outside of the socket entrance, extending back into the socket entrance and out of the knee through the transverse hole in the opposite sidewall of the socket;

engaging a graft with the loop of the strand extending out of the socket entrance; and

pulling the graft into the socket by pulling on opposite ends of the strand extending out of the transverse hole on the opposite sides of the femur.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of securing the graft in the socket using a transverse implant.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the implant is cannulated, the method further comprising the step of guiding the implant using the strand.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of forming a socket comprises forming a socket that is closed at one end.

5. A method of anterior cruciate reconstruction surgery of the knee, comprising the steps of:

forming a socket in a femur, the socket having an entrance;

forming a transverse hole in the femur extending completely across the femur and intersecting the socket, the transverse hole extending from a first side of the femur on one side of the socket to an opposite side of the femur on the opposite side of the socket;

positioning a flexible strand in the knee such that the flexible strand extends into the socket through the transverse hole on the first side of the femur, extends out through the socket entrance, and extends back into the socket entrance and out of the transverse hole on the opposite side of the femur;

engaging a graft with a portion of the strand extending out of the socket entrance; and

pulling the graft into the socket by pulling evenly on opposite ends of the strand extending out of the transverse hole on the opposite sides of the femur.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of securing the graft in the socket using a transverse implant.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the implant is cannulated, the method further comprising the step of guiding the implant into the knee and under the graft using the strand.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the implant has a threaded back end, the method further comprising the step of securing the implant in the knee by engaging a wall of the hole with the threaded back end of the implant.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of forming a socket comprises forming a socket that is closed at one end.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising the portion of the strand extending out of the socket entrance forms a loop, and the graft is engaged in the loop.