Surgical assembly and method for repairing depression fractures

Abstract

A surgical assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a cannula and an obturator receivable through the cannula and configured to manipulate a depressed bone fragment associated with a depression fracture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical assembly, comprising:
 a cannula; and   an obturator receivable through said cannula and configured to manipulate a depressed bone fragment associated with a depression fracture.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said obturator includes a blunt tip that extends beyond a distal end of said cannula. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical assembly as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said blunt tip is rounded. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical assembly as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said blunt tip and said distal end are curved and extend along an axis that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of said surgical assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said cannula includes a tube that extends between a fitting and a distal end. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical assembly as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said tube includes a passage that extends between said fitting and said distal end. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical assembly as recited in  claim 5 , comprising a plurality of openings formed through said tube at said distal end. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said obturator includes a shaft that extends between a handle and a blunt tip. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical assembly as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said handle includes a fitting and a grip that extends from said fitting. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said obturator is removable from said cannula. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical assembly as recited in  claim 10 , comprising a delivery device for injecting a repair material through said cannula after removing said obturator. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said cannula includes a first fitting and said obturator includes a second fitting configured to engage said first fitting to connect said obturator to said cannula. 
     
     
         13 . A surgical method, comprising:
 accessing a depressed bone fragment of a depression fracture with a surgical assembly, the surgical assembly including a cannula and an obturator receivable through the cannula; and   positioning the depressed bone fragment toward its original anatomical position using a blunt tip of the obturator.   
     
     
         14 . The surgical method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the accessing step includes locating the blunt tip of the obturator beneath the depressed bone fragment. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the locating step includes positioning the blunt tip such that it is generally perpendicular to the depressed bone fragment. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical method as recited in  claim 13 , comprising, prior to the accessing step, forming a pilot hole through cortical bone that is located inferior to the depression fracture. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical method as recited in  claim 13 , comprising, subsequent to the positioning step, removing the obturator from the cannula. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical method as recited in  claim 17 , comprising injecting a repair material through the cannula after the removing step. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the blunt tip extends past a distal end of the cannula. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the positioning step includes raising the depressed bone fragment toward the original anatomical position.