Bunion correction system and method

Inventors

Lamm, Bradley • Hollis, Michael Chad • Sayger, Daniel

Assignees

Crossroads Extremity Systems LLC

Abstract

A minimally invasive method of correcting a bunion includes performing an osteotomy to divide the metatarsal into first and second portions, implanting a nail in the first portion, securing a suture to the joint capsule, tensioning the suture to align the great toe with the metatarsal, attaching the suture to the nail, and fastening the nail to the second portion. A first guide block includes a plurality of coplanar passages to guide an instrument to create one or more holes in the metatarsal in advance of the osteotomy, and a second guide block includes a guide slot for another instrument to complete the osteotomy. The method can be performed through an incision of 0.5 inches or less. The nail includes an anchor portion for anchoring in the first portion, a head for attachment to a second portion, and can include a passage for attachment of the suture.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to a method for correcting a bunion formed at a joint between a metatarsal and a great toe. The method selects a target location on the metatarsal and creates an osteotomy at the target location that resects the metatarsal into a first metatarsal portion and a separate second metatarsal portion. An implant is implanted into the metatarsal as the metatarsal is divided into the first and second portions, with the implant comprising a monolithic body having a head and an anchor.

The implanting step includes inserting the anchor into the intramedullary canal of the first metatarsal portion. A length of suture is secured to the great toe and then tensioned to re-align the great toe relative to the first metatarsal portion. The length of suture is attached to the implant head to maintain the re-alignment created by the suture tensioning.

In related embodiments, a guide block is positioned at the target location and a cutting instrument is guided by the guide block to create the osteotomy. Other embodiments further include positioning and translating the metatarsal portions and fastening the implant head to the second metatarsal portion. In addition, the suture is secured to a joint capsule surrounding the joint, and the incision may be closed while maintaining the suture secured and attached.

Claims Coverage

The provided set includes three independent method claims that share the same core inventive concept and add specific structural and procedural limitations. Across the independent claims, the inventive features focus on an osteotomy dividing the metatarsal, insertion of a monolithic implant with an intramedullary anchor, and suture-based re-alignment of the great toe with attachment to an implant head.

Overall, the independent claims cover a bunion-correction workflow that combines a target-location osteotomy splitting the metatarsal, implantation of a monolithic head-and-anchor implant with an anchor inserted into the intramedullary canal of the first metatarsal portion, and suture tensioning to re-align the great toe with attachment of the suture to the implant head. Additional independent coverage specifies a guide-block guided osteotomy and, in another independent embodiment, includes fastening the implant head to the second metatarsal portion together with suture secured to a joint capsule.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications