Surgery – Truss – Perineal
Patent
1979-11-26
1982-09-14
Howell, Kyle L.
Surgery
Truss
Perineal
128 92EB, A61F 504, A61B 1718
Patent
active
043490174
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
Various proposals have been made for orthopaedic fracture fixation apparatus which involve adjustable assemblies of rods and coupling mechanisms connected to different parts of a fractured bone whereby the bone can be manipulated to and stabilised in a desired configuration. Some of the benefits of such apparatus are that patients can be quickly mobilised and so require less physiotherapy, wounds associated with fractures can be readily inspected and treated due to the absence of a plaster cast, and the bone can be subjected to compression or distraction by the apparatus.
The more versatile forms of such apparatus in terms of adjustment capability normally involve coupling mechanisms which, when loosened, allow the rods or other members coupled thereby to undergo relative movement in many if not all directions. This is disadvantageous in rendering difficult the control of at least the finer, final manipulation of bone fragments into a desired positional relationship.
An object of the present invention is to obviate this last difficulty and to this end there is provided orthopaedic fracture fixation apparatus of the general kind in question comprising coupling mechanisms each including a pair of clamps which are independently operable, rigidly interconnected, and have guides to secure elongate members in predetermined, mutually perpendicular directions. In addition, the overall geometry of the apparatus should be such as to comprise at least two like clamp assemblies each having guides to secure at least two bone pins in individually predetermined directions, and each having at least one post projecting therefrom in a predetermined angular relationship with said guides, there being at least four of said posts locatable as two pairs on opposite sides of a bone fracture by appropriate positioning of said clamp assemblies; at least two longitudinally adjustable rod mechanisms each for location to extend between a different pair of corresponding ones of said four posts on respectively opposite sides of said fracture; and at least four of said coupling mechanisms, each located with its two clamps respectively securing adjacent portions of one of said posts and the associated one of said rod mechanisms.
This apparatus is operable to allow selective adjustment of its overall configuration in two mutually perpendicular planes as will be appreciated more fully hereinafter.
In a first developed form of the invention which is currently undergoing clinical trials, the clamp assemblies each secure bone pins in a parallel coplanar array, and have a post perpendicular to the respective array plane. In a second form of the invention under development the clamp assemblies each comprise a curved or similarly shaped plate conforming generally to a limb portion profile, such plate having at least two mutually perpendicular tubular projections therefrom to serve as bone pin guides/clamp sleeves and as posts.
In order that the invention may be more fully understood, the same will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates one embodiment of the proposed apparatus assembled in use;
FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a drill accessory preferred for use in insertion of the bone pins of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 similarly illustrates a guide accessory preferred for use in association with the drill accessory of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 respectively illustrates in different views (a) and (b) a preferred form of bone pin for use with the embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 respectively illustrates in different views (a) and (c) another form of clamp mechanism from that of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 6 illustrates the clamp mechanism of FIG. 5 assembled in use.
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the proposed apparatus assembled in use relative to a long bone 10, typically in the leg, having a fracture 11.
The apparatus is coupled in use to the bone by way of bone pins 20 which can be of known form. There should be at least two such pins, and preferably three, passing through the bone on each side of t
REFERENCES:
patent: 2238870 (1941-04-01), Haynes
patent: 2391537 (1945-12-01), Anderson
patent: 4061437 (1977-12-01), Stranger et al.
patent: 4135505 (1979-01-01), Day
PCT/GB79/00055, The Tibial Fram, A. Y. Sayegh.
PCT Gazette, Secton 1, No. 22/1979, p. 914; Gazette entry of PCT/GB79/00055.
Howell Kyle L.
Shedd C. W.
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