Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a fastener (16) engageable with a bone portion to connect a longitudinal member (12) to the bone portion. A housing (40) has a first passage (42) configured to receive the longitudinal member (12) and a second passage (44) extending transverse to the first passage. The fastener (16) extends through an opening (50) in the housing (40) into the second passage (44). A longitudinal axis (18) of the fastener (16) is positionable in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to a longitudinal axis (46) of the second passage (44). A spacer (60) received in the second passage (44) of the housing (40) is engageable with the fastener (16) and the longitudinal member (12). A member (70) applies a force to prevent relative movement between the fastener (16) and the housing (40) and permit manual movement of the fastener (16) relative to the housing (40) against the force when the longitudinal member (12) is disengaged from the spacer (60).

Abstract: An elbow prosthesis can include a humeral component having a yoke, an ulnar component having a head, a humeral bearing positionable in a base of the humeral component, an ulnar bearing assembly configured to engage with the head, and a pin extendable through the bearing assembly and the head. The pin can be extendable into first and second ears of the yoke to enable pivotable movement of the ulnar component relative to the humeral component. The elbow prosthesis can include a first fastener insertable through the first ear of the yoke and configured to engage with the pin, and a second fastener insertable through the second ear of the yoke and configured to engage with the pin.

Abstract: An orthopaedic knee prosthesis includes a femoral component which exhibits enhanced articular features, minimizes removal of healthy bone stock from the distal femur, and minimizes the impact of the prosthesis on adjacent soft tissues of the knee.

Abstract: A dermatome having a handle and an attachment including a valve, where the valve may include a first bobbin at least partially defining a first flow path and a second flow path, a second bobbin at least partially defining a first flow path, an inlet port at least partially defined by the second bobbin and an outlet port at least partially defined by the first bobbin. The ports of the valve may open in response to an application of a mechanical act to the attachment and the ports may close in response to the absence or removal of the mechanical act.

Abstract: An orthopedic assembly for stabilizing a fractured bone. The orthopedic assembly includes a support structure and an anchor. The anchor includes a first portion and a second portion moveably coupled to the first portion to adjust an angular orientation of the anchor relative to the femur.

Abstract: A spine stabilization system including a first anchor, a second anchor and a rod for connecting the first and second anchors together. The first anchor includes an anchor body and a hook. A slot is defined between the hook and a first wall of the anchor body, facing the hook, the slot being configured to receive a bony structure. The first anchor further comprises a flexible member having first and second ends, and an intermediate portion therebetween. The anchor body is provided with an exit passage from which the first and second ends extend, and a loop passage going through the first wall and facing the hook, the intermediate portion extending from the loop passage to form a loop going through the slot and around the bony structure.

Abstract: Methods of forming polymeric articles using plasma treated polymer resins, and orthopedic implants comprising a polymeric article wherein the polymeric article has reactive groups bonded to polymer molecules in an interior region of the polymeric article.

Abstract: A surgical instrument and method are provided for guiding a cutting tool to resect an anatomical structure. The surgical instrument includes a guide body formed of a guide body material having a guide body material hardness, and a first bearing and a second bearing formed of a bearing material having a bearing material hardness. The bearing material hardness is greater than the guide body material hardness. The first bearing and the second bearing are secured to the guide body with at least a portion of the first bearing and at least a portion of the second bearing exposed from the guide body. Also, the second bearing is spaced a distance from the first bearing. By arranging the first bearing and the second bearing in this manner, the first bearing and the second bearing provide a discontinuous bearing surface for a cutting tool to contact when moving within the guide body.

Abstract: Methods for altering the natural history of degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the spine are proposed. The methods focus on the prevention, or delayed onset or progression of, subchondral defects such as bone marrow edema or bone marrow lesion, and subchondral treatment to prevent the progression of osteoarthritis or degenerative disc disease in the spine and thereby treat pain.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a shaping instrument for shaping a bone as well as an impaction/extraction device for use with the shaping instrument is disclosed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing polymers with a neutral color tone, wherein a blue and red dye are added before entry into the last polyreaction stage, wherein adjustment of a neutral color tone of the polymer, using a total dye concentration in the polymer of no more than 3 ppm and a proportion of the blue dye in the resulting dye mixture of at least 50% by weight, occurs through independent adjustment of a and b color values in the Lab color space by determination of a and b color values of the polymer without addition of dyes, establishment of the total dye concentration depending on the b-value shift to be achieved, establishment of the required mixture ratio of the colors red and blue depending on the a-value shift to be achieved, and metering of the established content of dye mixture into the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Instruments and associated methods are disclosed for treating joints, and particularly bone tissue. One of these instruments may be a positioning instrument for controlled delivery of a device to a target site of the bone tissue being treated. The positioning instrument may comprise a main body extending at one end into an indicator probe for visual determination of a target site of a bone to be treated, and at an opposite end into a handle. A rail extends from the main body. The instrument also includes an alignment guide having a device portal for insertion of a device therethrough, the alignment guide being detachable and movable along a length of the rail. The device may comprise an implant insertion tool, an injection catheter, a cavity creation tool such as a bone drill, for example, or the device may be an implantable device.

Abstract: An instrument use counter and related method are disclosed. The instrument use counter can include a tray, an instrument holder, an actuator, and a counter. The tray can include an instrument holder positioned on or above an upper surface of the tray. The instrument holder can be configured to retain at least one instrument. The actuator can be located in proximity to the instrument holder and can include a proximity sensor in electronic communication with the at least one instrument or a moveable member engageable with the at least one instrument during removal from, or receipt by, the instrument holder. The counter can be coupled to the tray, positioned above the upper surface, and operably coupled to the proximity sensor or the movable member of the actuator. The counter can include a numerical readout member that can track instrument use.

Abstract: In some examples, a method for at least one of preparation or machining of a femoral head formed on a neck of a femur includes selecting an instrument including probing forceps and a guide element including a centering axis. The guide element is coupled to the probing forceps at first and second coupling points disposed along the centering axis such that the centering axis is disposed in a central plane of the probing forceps independent of an opening angle of the probing forceps. The probing forceps are closed with probing jaws symmetrically contacting the neck of the femur at opposite sides with respect to an axis of the neck of the femur. The guide element self-adjusts with closing of the probing forceps so that the centering axis is automatically aligned in the middle with respect to the two oppositely disposed sides of the neck of the femur.

Abstract: An implant includes a head portion, an intermediate portion and an initially separate stem portion configured to engage the head portion so that at least the head portion and the stem portion cooperatively secure the intermediate portion on the implant. The implant may also include a locking mechanism configured to secure the head portion to the stem portion by a press fit or a threaded connection. The intermediate portion may include a porous metal such as tantalum.

Abstract: A mold for forming a temporary prosthesis has at least two mold members at least partially separable from each other. The at least two mold members cooperatively define a generally enclosed interior cavity for forming the temporary prosthesis. The mold has a securement structure mounted on the at least two mold members for securing the at least two mold members to each other during the forming of the temporary prosthesis. The securement structure is removable from the at least two mold members by hand and without the use of a tool.

Abstract: An intervertebral or spinal implant having a spacer, a cage, and a locking mechanism, where the locking mechanism may be configured to facilitate a connection between the spacer and the cage. In some cases, the spacer may include a distal end wall, a proximal end wall, a first lateral wall, and a second lateral wall, where the locking mechanism may be situated at the proximal end wall adjacent a receiving opening in the proximal end wall. The implant may have one or more spikes extending from a top and/or a bottom of the spacer to facilitate stabilizing the implant between vertebrae after insertion of the implant in the spinal column.

Abstract: A tibial support structure includes a platform portion and a medullary portion that are monolithically formed as a single piece. The medullary and platform portions of the augment component are adapted to accommodate and mechanically attach to a tibial baseplate, and are individually shaped and sized to replace damaged bone stock both within the tibia, as well at the tibial proximal surface. The monolithic formation of the tibial support structure provides a strong and stable foundation for a tibial baseplate and facilitates restoration of the anatomic joint line, even where substantial resections of the proximal tibia have been made. The tibial support structure may be made of a bone-ingrowth material which facilitates preservation and rebuilding of the proximal tibia after implantation, while also preserving the restored joint line by allowing revision surgeries to be performed without removal of the tibial support structure.

Abstract: An anchor for securing an implant within bone. In one embodiment, the anchor is used to aid in securing an acetabular cup within an acetabulum. The anchor may be implanted within an ischial defect of the pelvis, and is attached to an outer surface of the acetabular cup shell. The anchor is made at least in part of, and may be made entirely of, a porous metal material to facilitate the ingrowth of surrounding bone into the anchor for osseointegrating the anchor into the surrounding bone. The anchor may be secured to the acetabular shell by a screw fastener or by cement, for example. The anchor may be secured to the acetabular shell before the anchor and the acetabular shell are together implanted into the acetabulum, or the anchor may be implanted into the ischial defect, followed by seating the acetabular shell in the acetabulum and then securing the acetabular shell to the anchor.