Distraction screw for skeletal surgery and method of use

Abstract

An improved distraction bone screw and a method for its use are described. The distraction screw is comprised of an implantable distal segment and a detachably secured proximal segment. The distal segment includes a head portion and a threaded shank portion. The proximal segment is represented as an elongated body having an internal bore that extends through its length. A deployable member is disposed within the bore, which is extendible outside the internal bore to securely couple to the distal segment.

1 . A method for implanting a prosthetic device onto a mammalian bone structure comprising:
 (a) assembling a distraction screw, which comprises a proximal segment having an elongated body with an internal bore extending through the length of the elongated body; a deployable member disposed within the internal bore of the elongated body and adapted to be retractably deployed outside the internal bore and a prosthetic device including a head portion and a threaded shank portion and being detachably coupled to the elongated body; rotatably manipulating the distraction screw to effect the threading of the shank portion onto the mammalian bone structure; and   (b) detaching the elongated member segment from the prosthetic device onto the mammalian bone structure.