Calcaneal bone plate targeting guide

Abstract

A calcaneal targeting device includes a guide body configured to target a corresponding calcaneal bone plate. The guide body includes at least one mounting opening that is configured to align with a corresponding mounting opening of the calcaneal bone plate, at least one targeting opening configured to align with a corresponding fixation opening of the calcaneal bone plate, and a guiding portion that includes a tali targeting opening and a first elongated opening that has a first length. The first elongated opening is configured to allow sliding of a guide wire across the first length and align the tali targeting opening with a sustentaculum tali.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A calcaneal targeting device, comprising:
 a guide body configured to target a calcaneal bone plate, said guide body including:
 at least one mounting opening configured to align with a corresponding mounting opening of said calcaneal bone plate; 
 at least one targeting opening configured to align with a corresponding fixation opening of said calcaneal bone plate; and 
 a guiding portion that includes a tali targeting opening and a first elongated opening having a first length, said first elongated opening configured to allow sliding of a guide wire across said first length and align said tali targeting opening with a sustentaculum tali. 
   
     
     
         2 . The calcaneal targeting device according to  claim 1 , wherein said guiding portion includes a second elongated opening. 
     
     
         3 . The calcaneal targeting device according to  claim 2 , wherein said first elongated opening has a first center and said second elongated opening has a second center, said first center and said second center being substantially aligned along a centering axis. 
     
     
         4 . The calcaneal targeting device according to  claim 3 , wherein said first center and said second center have a size adjusting distance therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The calcaneal targeting device according to  claim 4 , wherein said size adjusting distance is between about 2 mm to about 12 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The calcaneal targeting device according to  claim 5 , wherein said size adjusting distance is about 5 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The calcaneal targeting device according to  claim 1 , wherein said second elongated opening has a substantially identical shape to said first elongated opening. 
     
     
         8 . The calcaneal targeting device according to  claim 1 , wherein said first elongated opening has a first elongated edge and said tali targeting opening has a circumferential edge, said circumferential edge having an alignment distance from said first elongated edge. 
     
     
         9 . The calcaneal targeting device according to  claim 8 , wherein said alignment distance is between about 2 mm and about 12 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The calcaneal targeting device according to  claim 9 , wherein said alignment distance is about 5 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The calcaneal targeting device according to  claim 1 , wherein said guide body comprises a substantially radiolucent material. 
     
     
         12 . A method of aligning a calcaneal bone plate including a plate tali opening to a calcaneus, comprising the steps of:
 attaching a calcaneal targeting guide to said calcaneal bone plate such that a tali targeting opening of said calcaneal targeting guide aligns with said plate tali opening, said targeting guide including a first elongated opening having a first length and being sized to allow sliding of a guide wire across said first length, said first elongated opening being adjacent to said tali targeting opening;   positioning said attached calcaneal bone plate on a lateral side of the calcaneus;   advancing a guide wire through said first elongated opening toward the calcaneus; and   adjusting a position of said attached calcaneal bone plate until said guide wire rests within a subtalar joint adjacent to the calcaneus.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of verifying a correct positioning of said attached calcaneal bone plate using fluoroscopy, said correct positioning being when said plate tali opening rests on a sustentaculum tali of the calcaneus. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of fixating a bone screw into the sustentaculum tali through said tali targeting opening and said plate tali opening. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said calcaneal targeting guide includes a second elongated opening that is substantially identical and aligned to said first elongated opening and has a second length, said second elongated opening being located adjacent to said first elongated opening. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of determining said first elongated opening does not correspond to said correct positioning and placing said guide wire within said second elongated opening. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of sliding said targeting guide over said guide wire across said first length to adjust a position of said calcaneal bone plate relative to a calcaneocuboid joint.