Long bone fixation system and methods

Abstract

A method of stabilizing a fractured bone includes: a) providing a first support member in a medullary canal of a fractured bone; b) providing a second support member outside the fractured bone; c) providing a transverse connector adapted to link the first support member to the second support member in an angle-stable connection; d) connecting the transverse connector to the first and second support members in an angle-stable connection; e) providing one or more bone screws adapted to be connected to the second support member in an angle-stable connection; and f) implanting the bone screws such that the shank of the screw is implanted in the fractured bone while the head of the screw is connected to the second support member in an angle-stable connection. The system provides superior fixation of long bones that allows for early functional range of motion without loss of alignment or fixation.

1 . A method of stabilizing a fractured long bone in a medical patient, the method comprising:
 a) providing an intramedullary nail having a first aperture passing radially through the nail and adapted to receive a transverse connector in an angle-stable connection, and implanting said intramedullary nail in a fractured long bone;   b) providing a locking plate having a first aperture adapted to receive a transverse connector in an angle-stable connection, and a second aperture adapted to receive a bone screw in an angle-stable connection, and positioning said locking plate against the outside surface of said fractured long bone;   c) providing a first transverse connector having a head-end and a shank, said head-end being adapted to be received in the first aperture of said locking plate in an angle-stable connection, and said shank being adapted to be received by said radial aperture of said intramedullary nail in an angle-stable connection,   d) providing a bone screw having a head-end adapted to be received in the second aperture of said locking plate in an angle-stable connection;   e) driving said first transverse connector through said first aperture in the locking plate, through at least a portion of the fractured bone, and through said radial aperture of said intramedullary nail;   f) locking said head-end of said first transverse connector to said locking plate in an angle-stable connection;   g) locking said shank of said first transverse connector to said intramedullary nail in an angle-stable connection; and   h) driving said bone screw through said second threaded aperture in said locking plate and into said long bone without passing through said intramedullary nail; and   i) locking the head-end of said bone screw to said locking plate in an angle-stable connection.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said transverse connector has a roughened shank. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said transverse connector has a threaded shank. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said intramedullary nail includes an axial aperture passing axially into the nail adjacent said radial aperture and adapted to receive a locking screw. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein locking plate includes at least three threaded apertures, and wherein at least two bone screws are screwed into the bone and locked in said plate. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said intramedullary nail has at least two radial apertures passing radially through the nail; wherein said locking plate has at least three threaded apertures adapted to receive a threaded head-end of a bone implant; and wherein at least two transverse connectors having a threaded head-end adapted to fit a threaded aperture of said locking plate are driven through threaded apertures in the locking plate, through at least a portion of the fractured bone, and through radial apertures of said intramedullary nail. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said fractured long bone is a fractured femur. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said radial aperture in said intramedullary nail is not threaded. 
   
   
       9 . An assembly for reducing and stabilizing a fracture in a long bone, comprising:
 a) an intramedullary nail having at least one radial aperture passing radially through the nail and adapted to receive a bone screw, and at least one threaded, axial aperture passing axially into the nail adjacent a radial aperture and adapted to receive a locking screw;   b) a locking plate having at least two threaded apertures adapted to receive a threaded head-end of a bone implant;   c) at least one transverse connector having a threaded head-end adapted to fit a threaded aperture of said locking plate;   d) at least one bone screw having a threaded head-end adapted to fit a threaded aperture of said locking plate; and   e) a locking screw threaded to match the threaded axial aperture of said intramedullary nail, and effective for locking the shank of a transverse connector to the intramedullary nail.   
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein said transverse connector has a roughened shank. 
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 9  wherein said transverse connector has a threaded shank. 
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein locking plate includes at least three threaded apertures, and wherein said assembly includes at least two bone screws adapted to be screwed into a long bone and locked in said plate. 
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein said intramedullary nail has at least two radial apertures passing radially through the nail; wherein said locking plate has at least three threaded apertures adapted to receive a threaded head-end of a bone implant; and wherein the assembly includes at least two transverse connectors, wherein each of said transverse connectors has a threaded head-end adapted to fit a threaded aperture of said locking plate and is sized to pass through a threaded aperture in the locking plate, through at least a portion of the fractured bone, and through a radial aperture of said intramedullary nail. 
   
   
       14 . A method of stabilizing a fractured bone in a medical patient, comprising:
 a) providing a first structural support member in a medullary canal of a fractured bone;   b) providing a second structural support member outside said fractured bone;   c) providing a transverse connector adapted to link said first structural support member to said second structural support member in an angle-stable connection;   d) connecting said transverse connector to said first structural support member in an angle-stable connection;   e) connecting said transverse connector to said second structural support member in an angle-stable connection;   f) providing one or more bone screws adapted to be connected to said second support member in an angle-stable connection;   g) implanting said bone screws such that at least a portion of the shank of said bone screws is implanted in said fractured bone, and said bone screw is connected to said second support member in an angle-stable connection.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said first structural support member comprises an intramedullary nail. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said intramedullary nail comprises a femoral nail. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said intramedullary nail includes a radial aperture adapted to facilitate connecting said transverse connector to said first structural support member in an angle-stable connection. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said intramedullary nail includes an axial aperture adapted to facilitate connecting said transverse connector to said first structural support member in an angle-stable connection. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said second structural support member comprises a plate. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said plate includes apertures adapted to facilitate locking said bone screws to said plate in an angle-stable manner.