Intramedullary interlocking fixation device for the distal radius
First Claim
1. A method for treating a distal radius fracture of a patient comprising the use of an internal fixation rod, the radius anatomically having an articular joint surface, a metaphysis region, a shaft portion and a medullary canal associated therewith, the distal radius fracture having a fracture line which divides the radius into a distal fracture fragment portion and a proximal fracture fragment portion, the distal fragment portion including the distal end of the radius proximate the articular joint surface, the distal portion of the fracture having a width thereacross, said method comprising the steps of:
- installing an elongated rod having opposing proximal and distal portions into the medullary canal of the patient such that the distal portion of the rod resides distal to the fracture line and the proximal portion of the rod resides proximal to the fracture line;
securing a distal fixation member to the elongated rod and into the distal end portion of the radius at a location which is distal to the fracture line such that, in position, the distal fixation member is sized and configured to extend internal to the patient across a portion of the distal fracture fragment; and
anchoring the elongated rod inside the medullary canal of the radius at a location which is below the fracture line.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and devices for treating fractures in or adjacent the wrist and distal forearm employ an intramedullary interlocking fixation rod (i.e, it interlocks the distal and proximal fracture fragments together) to stabilize the skeletal structure in a manner which can inhibit the amount of collapse or loss in skeletal length exhibited by a patient with a distal radius fracture.
301 Citations
57 Claims
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1. A method for treating a distal radius fracture of a patient comprising the use of an internal fixation rod, the radius anatomically having an articular joint surface, a metaphysis region, a shaft portion and a medullary canal associated therewith, the distal radius fracture having a fracture line which divides the radius into a distal fracture fragment portion and a proximal fracture fragment portion, the distal fragment portion including the distal end of the radius proximate the articular joint surface, the distal portion of the fracture having a width thereacross, said method comprising the steps of:
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installing an elongated rod having opposing proximal and distal portions into the medullary canal of the patient such that the distal portion of the rod resides distal to the fracture line and the proximal portion of the rod resides proximal to the fracture line;
securing a distal fixation member to the elongated rod and into the distal end portion of the radius at a location which is distal to the fracture line such that, in position, the distal fixation member is sized and configured to extend internal to the patient across a portion of the distal fracture fragment; and
anchoring the elongated rod inside the medullary canal of the radius at a location which is below the fracture line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
attaching an external positioning guide onto a distal portion of the elongated rod such that the guide extends above the radius external of the patient'"'"'s body to visually indicate the position of the at least one proximal aperture in the rod as it resides in the medullary canal of the patient; and
removing the external positioning guide after said step of securing said at least one proximal fixation member to the rod and the radius.
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28. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said elongated rod has a cross section which is substantially rectangular.
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29. An internal fixation device for treating or repairing distal radius fractures having a fracture line forming distal and proximal fracture fragments, the radius anatomically configured with a distal articular joint surface, a metaphysis region, a shaft, and a medullary canal, the distal portion of the radius having a width which extends, from a radial region to a central and ulnar region, said device comprising:
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an elongated fixation rod having opposing distal and proximal portions, said distal portion including a head with a laterally extending distal aperture formed therein, said proximal portion comprising at least one proximal aperture formed therein, wherein said elongated fixation rod proximal portion is sized and configured such that, in position, it resides in the shaft inside a portion of the medullary canal of the radius of a patient;
a distal fixation member configured to enter said distal portion aperture and attach to said rod and the distal fracture fragment to hold said distal portion of said rod to the distal fracture fragment, wherein said distal fixation member has a lateral extension length and is sized and configured so that, in position, it laterally extends through said rod distal aperture beyond the perimeter of said rod and across at least a major portion of the radius in the metaphysis region; and
at least one proximal fixation member, a respective one for each of said at least one proximal apertures, said proximal fixation member configured to secure said proximal portion of said fixation rod to the radius proximal to the fracture line, wherein, in position, said elongated fixation rod is configured and sized to reside within the radius, and wherein said distal fixation member and said at least one proximal fixation member are configured and sized as implants that reside internally in the patient. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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Specification