Fracture and nonunion rib implants

Abstract

A rib implant securable to first and second rib portions of a rib. The rib implant can include a body, a first porous stem, and a second porous stem. The body can be configured to span a first rib portion of a rib and a second rib portion of the rib. The first porous stem can extend from the body and the first porous stem can be insertable into a first intramedullary canal of the first rib portion. The second porous stem can extend from the body opposite the first porous stem. The second porous stem can be insertable into a second intramedullary canal of the second rib portion to, together with the first porous stem, secure the first rib portion and the second rib portion.

1 . A rib implant securable to first and second rib portions of a rib, the rib implant comprising:
 a body the body including a first end and an opposite second end, the body configured to span a first rib portion of a rib at the first end and a second rib portion of the rib at the second end;   a first porous stem extending from the first end of the body, the first porous stem insertable into a first intramedullary canal of the first rib portion; and   a second porous stem extending from the second end of the body opposite the first porous stem, the second porous stem insertable into a second intramedullary canal of the second rib portion to secure, together with the first porous stem, the first rib portion and the second rib portion.   
     
     
         2 . The rib implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body is comprised of a porous material configured to promote bone ingrowth. 
     
     
         3 . The rib implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body is comprised of a resorbable material. 
     
     
         4 . The rib implant of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the body, the first porous stem, and the second porous stem is comprised of Lactosorb. 
     
     
         5 . The rib implant of  claim 1 , wherein the first porous stem is comprised of a porous material configured to promote bone ingrowth. 
     
     
         6 . The rib implant of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the body, the first porous stem, and the second porous stem is comprised of a material selected from a group consisting of Trabecular metal, Regenerex, and OsseoTi. 
     
     
         7 . The rib implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body is comprised of a solid material and is sized and shaped to match a size and a shape of each of the first rib portion and the second rib portion to create a substantially uniform bridge between the first rib portion and the second rib portion. 
     
     
         8 . The rib implant of  claim 1 , wherein the first porous stem is configured to create an interference fit with the first intramedullary canal. 
     
     
         9 . The rib implant of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fastener extendable through the first stem to secure the first stem to the first rib portion.   
     
     
         10 . The rib implant of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plate extending from the body substantially parallel to the first stem, the plate configured to engage a face of the first rib portion.   
     
     
         11 . The rib implant of  claim 10 , wherein the plate includes a plate bore and the first stem includes a stem bore substantially coaxial with the plate bore. 
     
     
         12 . The rib implant of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a fastener extendable through the plate bore and the stem bore to secure the first stem and the plate to the first rib portion.   
     
     
         13 . The rib implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a substantially cylindrical rod. 
     
     
         14 . The rib implant of  claim 13 , wherein the rod is bendable to match a curvature of a rib of a patient. 
     
     
         15 . The rib implant of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a flange secured to the body between the body and the first stem.   
     
     
         16 . The rib implant of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first stem and second stem comprises a tapered extension. 
     
     
         17 . A rib implant system comprising:
 an implant securable to a first rib portion of a rib and a second rib portion of the rib, the implant comprising:
 a body the body including a first end and an opposite second end, the body configured to span a first rib portion of a rib at the first end and a second rib portion of the rib at the second end; 
 a first porous stem extending from the first end of the body, the first porous stem insertable into a first intramedullary canal of the first rib portion; and 
 a second porous stem extending from the second end of the body opposite the first porous stem, the second porous stem insertable into a second intramedullary canal of the second rib portion to secure, together with the first porous stem, the first rib portion and the second rib portion. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a cut guide configured to guide resection of the first rib portion and the second rib portion so that the rib implant is positionable therebetween.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a fastener securable to the first rib portion and the first stem to secure the rib implant to the first rib portion.   
     
     
         20 . A rib implant securable to a medial rib portion of a rib and a lateral rib portion of the rib, the rib implant comprising:
 a first porous stem including a medial portion and a lateral portion, the medial portion insertable into a first intramedullary canal of the medial rib portion; and   a second porous stem including a medial portion and a lateral portion, the lateral portion insertable into a lateral intramedullary canal of the lateral rib portion, the lateral portion of the first porous stem securable to the medial portion of the second porous stem to secure the medial rib portion and the lateral rib portion.