BUNION REPAIR USING SUTURE-BUTTON CONSTRUCT

• US 20080208252A1
• Filed: 01/17/2008
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Inventors: Holmes, George B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,875,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/232
• 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 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06 Needles ; Sutures; Needle-suture combinations; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials puncturing needles A61B17/34; hypodermic needles A61M5/32 ; sewing needles D05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/842 Flexible wires, bands or straps A61B17/72, A61B17/82, A61B17/86 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/565 for surgical correction of axial deviation, e.g. hallux valgus or genu valgus

Abstract

A method for bunion repair using a suture-button construct. The suture-button construct includes a first button, a second button, a first suture strand, a pull-through suture strand and a needle. The first and second buttons have apertures to facilitate the suture strands to pass through the buttons. The first suture strand is double looped through the first and second buttons and the pull-through suture strand is looped through one of the apertures of the first button. The pull-through suture strand also loops through an eyelet of the needle and thus, is operatively associated with the needle. A suture anchor-button construct can also be used for bunion repair.

Claims

1. A method of bunion repair comprising:

drilling a hole across a first metatarsal and through a second metatarsal;

passing a needle with a first suture strand of a suture-button construct through the hole;

pulling the first suture strand and simultaneously applying a lateral tension on a second suture strand such that the first button lies sideways, and advancing the first button through the hole until the first button exits the hole through a medial/lateral side of the first metatarsal cortex;

flipping the first button to engage the first button against the first metatarsal and applying a lateral tension on the second suture strand;

manually pushing the first metatarsal and the second metatarsal together to correct intermetatarsal angular deformity;

pulling free ends of the second suture strand of the suture-button construct to advance a second button of the suture-button construct and to engage the second button against the second metatarsal; and

securing the second button against the second metatarsal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first button is oblong-shaped having at least two apertures, the apertures being substantially triangular in shape.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second button is round-shaped having at least four apertures, the four apertures being substantially circular-shaped and centers of the four apertures being substantially equidistant from a center of the second button.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second suture strands are formed of a suture comprising a plurality of fibers of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the initial step of making a longitudinal incision over a medial aspect of a first metatarsophalangeal joint to expose a medial eminence;

and removing the medial eminence.

6. The method of claim 1, performed in an opposite manner, such that the first button is advanced in an opposite direction through the hole and ends up against the lateral side of the second metatarsal and the second button ends up against first metatarsal.

8. The suture-button construct of claim 6, wherein the first suture strand comprises a plurality of fibers of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene.

9. The suture-button construct of claim 6, wherein the second suture strand comprises a plurality of fibers of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene.

10. The suture-button construct of claim 6, wherein the first and second buttons are made of a material comprising one of titanium, stainless steel, PEEK, or PLLA.

11. The suture-button construct of claim 6, wherein the first button is substantially oblong-shaped with chamfered or rounded corners and edges.

12. The suture-button construct of claim 6, wherein the pair of apertures of the first button are substantially triangular-shaped.

13. The suture-button construct of claim 6, wherein the second button is substantially round-shaped.

14. The suture-button construct of claim 6, wherein the four apertures of the second button are substantially circular-shaped.

7. A suture-button construct, comprising:

a first suture strand and a second suture strand;

a first button, the first button having at least a pair of apertures and the apertures being designed to allow passage of the suture strands; and

a second button, the second button having at least four apertures and the apertures being designed to allow passage of the suture strands,

wherein the first suture strand is double looped through the apertures of the first and second buttons leaving both free ends of the first suture strand free for tying,

wherein the second suture strand is looped through one of the apertures of the first button and is operatively associated with a needle, and

wherein the suture-button construct is used to repair bunions.

15. A suture anchor-button construct, comprising:

a suture anchor with a suture extending therefrom; and

a button, the button having at least a pair of apertures and the apertures being designed to allow passage of the suture from the suture anchor;

wherein the suture anchor-button construct is used to repair bunions.