Guide Sleeve For Suprapatellar Surgery

Abstract

A tissue protection sleeve for use in suprapatellar surgery is provided. The sleeve has a first end, a second end, an inner surface and an outer surface. The sleeve further comprises at least two open grooves that extend along the inner surface from the first end to the second end. The grooves are adapted to accommodate elongated fixation elements inserted into a tibia. A drill guide sleeve and a trocar for inserting a guide wire are also provided and can be accommodated by the tissue protection sleeve.

1 . A system comprising:
 a flexible hollow tissue protection sleeve for receiving a bone nail, the hollow tissue protection sleeve having open first and second ends spaced apart along a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, and an inner surface defining at least two grooves extending between the first end to the second end, the tissue protection sleeve comprising an elastic material that permits bending of the tissue protection sleeve along the longitudinal axis;   a drill sleeve adapted to be inserted into the hollow tissue protection sleeve and having a first end defining at least two openings,   wherein, when the drill sleeve is inserted into the tissue protection sleeve, the at least two openings align with the at least two grooves of the tissue protection sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the drill sleeve has an enlarged diameter. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an angular distance between each of the at least two grooves along a circumference of the inner surface is less than 180°. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue protection sleeve and the drill sleeve are adapted to be rotationally locked relative to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least two elongated fixation elements, wherein, when the drill sleeve is inserted into the tissue protection sleeve, an outer surface of the drill sleeve closes the at least two grooves of the tissue protection sleeve to define at least two canals in which the elongated fixation elements are inserted. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least two elongated fixation elements can be inserted into each of the canals through the respective one of the at least two openings. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two grooves are parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tissue protection sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two grooves are angled with respect to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         9 . A method for suprapatellar surgery, comprising:
 inserting a flexible hollow tissue protection sleeve through an incision posterior to a patella, the tissue protection sleeve having first and second ends spaced apart along a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, and an inner surface defining at least two grooves extending between the first end and the second end, the tissue protection sleeve comprising an elastic material that permits bending of the tissue protection sleeve along the longitudinal axis;   inserting a drill guide sleeve into the tissue protection sleeve, a first end of the drill guide sleeve defining at least two openings that are aligned with the at least two grooves of the tissue protection sleeve when the drill guide sleeve is inserted into the tissue protection sleeve; and   inserting at least two fixation elements into the tibia through a respective one of the at least two openings and a respective groove of the tissue protection sleeve.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least two grooves of the tissue protection sleeve are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tissue protection sleeve. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least two grooves of the tissue protection sleeve are angled with respect to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of inserting a trocar into the tissue protection sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of inserting a guide wire into the tibia through the trocar. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of removing the trocar after inserting the guidewire. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the steps of drilling a bore in the tibia by using the drill sleeve as a guide and inserting a bone nail into the drilled bore.