Method of implanting a bone fixation assembly

• US 9,433,407 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2016
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fritzinger, Daniel D., Winslow, Nathan A., Taylor, Robert, Stone, Kevin T.
• Primary Examiner(s): SEVILLA, CHRISTIAN ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US14/989,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20160113691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 244 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/683 comprising bone transfixation elements, e.g. bolt with a distal cooperating element such as a nut
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8057 the interlocking form comprising a thread
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8061 specially adapted for particular bones A61B17/70 and A61B17/74 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0437 the barbs being resilient or spring-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures

Abstract

A bone fixation assembly can include a suture button, a bone plate, and a suture assembly. The suture button can include a body that has a first end surface, a second end surface, and a circumferential outer surface. A first pair of passages can be formed through the body from the first end surface to the second end surface. The circumferential outer surface can include at least one protrusion or retaining rib extending radially therefrom. The bone plate defines an aperture. The suture button is configured to be at least partially received into the aperture in an assembled position such that the retaining rib engages the bone plate and inhibits withdrawal of the suture button from the aperture in the assembled position. The suture assembly includes a suture engaging member and a suture configured to couple the suture engaging member in the suture button.

Claims

1. A method of implanting a bone fixation assembly, the method comprising:

positioning a portion of a suture through an eyelet in a suture engaging member to form first and second suture strands extending from opposite sides of the eyelet, the suture engaging member being elongated along a longitudinal direction;

advancing the suture engaging member in a longitudinal orientation through a bone plate aperture in a bone plate, through a clavicle hole in a clavicle, and through a coracoid process hole in a coracoid process, so that the first and second suture strands extend from the eyelet sequentially through the coracoid process hole, the clavicle hole, and the bone plate aperture;

advancing a suture button over the first and second suture strands into the bone plate aperture;

securing the suture button to the bone plate by engaging retaining ribs formed on a circumferential surface of the suture button with one or more threads formed in the bone plate at the bone plate aperture;

pulling on the first and second suture strands to;

pivot the suture engaging member away from the longitudinal orientation so that the suture engaging member has an outer profile unsuitable for entering the coracoid process hole, and

produce tension between the suture engaging member and the bone plate; and

tying the first and second suture strands together to maintain the tension.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second suture strands extend through respective first and second longitudinal passages in the suture button.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second passages are positioned on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the suture button.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first and second passages are radially accessible through a lateral edge of the suture button.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the first and second passages are radially inaccessible through a lateral edge of the suture button.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first and second suture strands extend through a single longitudinal passage in the suture button; and

the first and second suture strands are tied together in a knot that is too large to fit in the single longitudinal passage.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the retaining ribs are discontinuous around the circumference of the suture button.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the retaining ribs are arranged in groups around the circumference of the suture button, the ribs in each group being longitudinally offset from one another.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning the bone plate proximate the clavicle.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

preparing the clavicle hole through the clavicle; and

preparing the coracoid process hole through the coracoid process.

11. A method of implanting a bone fixation assembly, the method comprising:

locating a portion of a suture through a bone plate aperture in a bone plate, through a clavicle hole in a clavicle, and through a coracoid process hole in a coracoid process, until a retaining member slidably disposed on the portion of the suture locates against an outer surface of the coracoid process;

passing a second portion of the suture through a suture button aperture defined in a suture button;

positively locating the suture button into the bone plate aperture including engaging retaining ribs formed on a circumferential surface of the suture button with one or more threads formed in the bone plate at the bone plate aperture;

drawing the second portion of the suture away from the outer surface of the coracoid process causing tension between the retaining member and the bone plate; and

securing the second portion of the suture at a position that maintains the tension.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein drawing the second portion of the suture away from the outer surface of the coracoid process comprises:

manipulating the retaining member from a first position that has an outer profile generally suitable to pass through the clavicle hole and the coracoid process hole to a second position that has an outer profile generally unsuitable to pass through the coracoid process hole.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein drawing the second portion of the suture away from the outer surface of the coracoid process comprises:

manipulating the retaining member from a first position that has an outer profile generally suitable to pass through the clavicle hole and the coracoid process hole to a second position that has an outer profile generally unsuitable to pass through the clavicle hole and the coracoid process hole.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

positioning the bone plate proximate the clavicle;

preparing the clavicle hole through the clavicle; and

preparing the coracoid process hole through the coracoid process.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the retaining ribs are discontinuous around the circumference of the suture button.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the retaining ribs are arranged in groups around the circumference of the suture button, the ribs in each group being longitudinally offset from one another.

17. A method of implanting a bone fixation assembly, the method comprising:

preparing a clavicle hole through a clavicle;

preparing a coracoid process hole through a coracoid process;

positioning a bone plate having an aperture proximate the clavicle;

locating a portion of a suture through the aperture, the clavicle hole, and the coracoid process hole, until a retaining member slidably disposed on the portion of the suture locates against an outer surface of the coracoid process;

passing a second portion of the suture through an aperture defined in a suture button;

positively locating the suture button into the bone plate aperture including engaging retaining ribs formed on a circumferential surface of the suture button with one or more threads formed in the bone plate at the aperture;

drawing the second portion of the suture away from the outer surface of the coracoid process causing tension between the retaining member and the bone plate; and

securing the second portion of the suture at a position that maintains the tension.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein drawing the second portion of the suture away from the outer surface of the coracoid process comprises:

manipulating the retaining member from a first position that has an outer profile generally suitable to pass through the clavicle hole and the coracoid process hole to a second position that has an outer profile generally unsuitable to pass through the clavicle hole and the coracoid process hole.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the retaining ribs are discontinuous around the circumference of the suture button.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the retaining ribs are arranged in groups around the circumference of the suture button, the ribs in each group being longitudinally offset from one another.