Abstract: An intramedullary nail for use in combination with a proximal bone screw. The nail includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end with a central axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The proximal end of the body has a transverse slot therethrough, the transverse slot therethrough with contour for allowing the proximal bone screw to be inserted through the transverse slot and through the proximal end of the body with the longitudinal axis of the proximal bone screw located at an angle to the central axis of the body of the nail within a range between an acute angle on either side of a plane extending transverse to the central axis of the body of the nail.

Abstract: An intramedullary nail for use in combination with a proximal bone screw. The nail includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end with a central axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The proximal end of the body has a transverse slot therethrough, the transverse slot therethrough with contour for allowing the proximal bone screw to be inserted through the transverse slot and through the proximal end of the body with the longitudinal axis of the proximal bone screw located at an angle to the central axis of the body of the nail within a range between an acute angle on either side of a plane extending transverse to the central axis of the body of the nail.

Abstract: The invention disclosed by this application relates to a novel method of processing sinterable powders into sintered ceramic products. This application also relates to novel forms of aluminum oxide, hydroxylapatite, and tricalcium phosphate ceramic products prepared in accordance with the method of this invention, as well as novel intermediate products useful to prepare the novel ceramic products of this invention.

Abstract: A moldable bone-implant material containing between about 65%-95% hard filler particles and a binder composed of between about 35%-5% of a biocompatible, biodegradable, thermoplastic polymer which has fluidic flow properties at or below about 60.degree. C. One preferred binder is polylactic acid having a molecular weight between about 400 and 5,000 daltons, and a preferred hard filler is hydroxylapatite. In use, the material is warmed to a temperature which allows molding, and the bone site is filled with the moldable material, which then forms a contour-fitting, semi-rigid implant. The implant retains its contour fit and acquires a rigid final state as the binder in the implant is gradually biodegraded and replaced through tissue ingrowth from the surrounding bone site.