Abstract: A lockable pin plate assembly which has a pin plate adapted to be secured to stable bone and provided with pin holes for pins for pinning an unstable bone fragment. One or more pin holes are engageable by pins of an integral U-pin. The pins have stop surfaces thereon which are resiliently displaced when the pins are seated to automatically and self-lock the pin and the pin plate to oppose withdrawal and backing out of the pins from the pin plate.

Abstract: A bone fixation plate for fixation of fractures having a small terminal bone fragment, such as fractures of the lateral malleolus. The bone fixation plate includes an elongated body, and two hook members extending from a first end of the elongated body. Each hook member curves back upon a bottom surface of the elongated body, back towards a second end of the elongated body, and terminating in a pointed prong region. The elongated body includes a first region, a second region, and an angled region disposed between the first and second region. The prong region has a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the angled region of the elongated body of the bone plate. A double barreled drill guide and associated interchangeable cooperating inner drill guides and gauges are provided to facilitate the drilling of pilot holes in a terminal bone fragment for axial insertion of the pointed prong regions of the hook members.

Abstract: A bone fixation plate for fixation of fractures having a small terminal bone fragment, such as fractures of the lateral malleolus. The bone fixation plate includes an elongated body, and two hook members extending from a first end of the elongated body. Each hook member curves back upon a bottom surface of the elongated body, back towards a second end of the elongated body, and terminating in a pointed prong region. The elongated body includes a first region, a second region, and an angled region disposed between the first and second region. The prong region has a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the angled region of the elongated body of the bone plate.

Abstract: An implant for fracture fixation in which a wire element has one end installed in bone and an opposite end fixed externally to the bone to apply compression across the fracture wherein a guide system is provided for guiding a tip of the one end of the wire element into a pilot hole in the bone prior to producing compression across the fracture.

Abstract: A lockable pin plate assembly which has a pin plate adapted to be secured to stable bone and provided with pin holes for pins for pinning an unstable bone fragment. One or more pin holes are engageable by pins of an integral U-pin. The pins have stop surfaces thereon which are resiliently displaced when the pins are seated to automatically and self-lock the pin and the pin plate to oppose withdrawal and backing out of the pins from the pin plate.

Abstract: A fracture fixation implant formed from a single piece of material bent in loop form to provide juxtaposed first and second legs joined by a bend. The first leg is dimensional and configured to be implanted within a bone to extend across a fracture in the bone, the second leg extending backwardly from the bend and having a length to extend on an outer surface of the bone across the fracture. The implant exits from the bone at the bend, such that application of a pulling force on the second leg produces compression across the fracture. The second leg is flat and is provided with a plurality of holes in which bone screws can be installed to secure the second leg directly to the bone and maintain the compression across the fracture. The implant avoids the use of washers.

Abstract: A bearing plate for use in bone fixation for fractures, fusion osteotomies and the like, and the plate is provided with one or more spherical holes in which expandable spherical bearings can be rotatably supported. Each of the holes is formed at its periphery in such a way as to provide yielding expansibility of the hole so that upon expansion of the bearing, the hole expands with it to provide elastic resistance to the expanding bearing.

Abstract: A bone fixation plate for fixation of fractures having a small terminal bone fragment, such as fractures of the lateral malleolus. The bone fixation plate includes an elongated body, and two hook members extending from a first end of the elongated body. Each hook member curves back upon a bottom surface of the elongated body, back towards a second end of the elongated body, and terminating in a pointed prong region. The elongated body includes a first region, a second region, and an angled region disposed between the first and second region. The prong region has a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the angled region of the elongated body of the bone plate. A double barreled drill guide and associated interchangeable cooperating inner drill guides and gauges are provided to facilitate the drilling of pilot holes in a terminal bone fragment for axial insertion of the pointed prong regions of the hook members.

Abstract: A reconstructive procedure for addressing instability of the scapholunate articulation between a scaphoid and a lunate of the hand. A graft is obtained. At least a portion of the graft is positioned intramedullary to the scaphoid. At least another portion of the graft is positioning intramedullary to the lunate. The graft crosses directly through the scapholunate joint. A plurality of instruments and implements, including an E-shaped drill guide, a cannulated lunate screw, and suture anchors in the form of button-shaped or bead-shaped anchors, are provided to facilitate the surgeon's performance of the scapholunate ligament reconstruction. A kit is provided, including a plurality of instruments and implements for performing the reconstructive procedure.

Abstract: An expansion and compression instrument for fracture fixation. The instrument includes a first handle member, a second handle member, a bearing assembly, and a replaceable tip insert. The bearing assembly axially receives a driver, such as a hexagonal head screwdriver. The replaceable tip insert is adapted to engage an aperture of a fracture fixation plate. The driver is adapted to engage the head of a bone screw, partially threaded into bone proximate the fracture and disposed through a longitudinal slot of the plate. Manual manipulation of the handle members together or apart causes the driver head and replaceable tip insert to become farther apart or closer together, respectively. This in turn, causes the bone screw to be displaced along the longitudinal slot, expanding or compressing the fracture, respectively. Once the fracture has been expanded or compressed to the desired degree, rotation of the screwdriver, facilitated by the bearing assembly, tightens the bone screw, locking the plate into place.

Abstract: An implant for fracture fixation in which a wire element has one end installed in bone and an opposite end fixed externally to the bone to apply compression across the fracture wherein a guide system is provided for guiding a tip of the one end of the wire element into a pilot hole in the bone prior to producing compression across the fracture.

Abstract: An intramedullary implant, useful particularly for the fixation of fractures of the radius, the implant comprising a first and second end, both ends configured for entry into the intramedullary canal through an entry point on the bone, such as the fracture site, and configured for positioning within the intramedullary canal of the fractured bone, the first end positioned in the intramedullary space of a first bone fragment and the second end positioned in the intramedullary space of a second bone fragment on the opposite side of the fracture. The first end is positioned by displacing the implant in a first direction and the second end is positioned by displacing the implant in a second direction, substantially opposite to the first direction. The implant further comprises a tip configured to abut an end surface of the second fragment to provide axial support to second fragment.

Abstract: A surgical tool for division of a tendon sheath having a convex outer surface, such as the A1 pulley of the finger, is disclosed. A cutting tip is configured to self-center itself and, in turn, a cutting blade carried by the cutting tip, as the cutting tip is advanced along the arcuate outer surface of the tendon sheath. The cutting tip is further configured to displace neural tissue and vascular tissue from a region proximate the cutting blade as the cutting tip is advanced along the arcuate outer surface of the tendon sheath. A retractable blade guard is disclosed. The cutting blade may be fixed, relative to the cutting tip. Alternatively, the cutting blade may be moveable from a retracted position and a deployed position, and vice-versa.

Abstract: A bone fixation system consisting of a wire element, such as a be bendable pin, bar or tab, that is bonded to a polymer fixation member over part of its length and extends from the polymer fixation member can be easily secured to a bone or bone fragment with one or more fasteners, such as bone screws, and the wire element buttresses or penetrates a second bone fragment or portion.

Abstract: An implant for fracture fixation having external portion shaped to be externally engaged on and secured to a stable bone fragment on one side of a bone fracture and an integral internal portion sized and shaped for being inserted into and accommodated in an intramedullary canal of an unstable bone fragment on an opposite side of the fracture. The internal portion has an end with a rounded tip of bullet-shape for fitting in an apical space at an endosteal surface of the unstable bone fragment to provide a bearing support for the unstable bone fragment over a large area.

Abstract: A fracture fixation system in which a plate is secured to stable bone and posts are inserted at varying angles into an unstable bone fragment by engaging in rotatable bearings which are fixedly secured in the plate when the posts are fully engaged in the bone fragment. The bearings are formed as truncated spherical members having a number of longitudinal slots extending partway along the length of the bearing to form petals which are expanded outwardly when the posts are advanced in the bearing to produce non-uniform distribution of forces between the bearing and the plate which generate force couples to resist angulation of the posts and loss of fracture fixation. Various other ways of producing non-uniform force distribution are described.

Abstract: A fixation device for fixing a fracture in a bone structure, in which a fixation pin adapted for penetrating into a stable fragment of a bone structure across a fracture has an end extending from an unstable fragment of the bone structure and a fixation plate adapted for being secured to the stable bone fragment distally from the end of the fixation pin. The fixation plate is engageable with the end of the pin to prevent the pin from backing out of the unstable bone fragment while providing restraint against movement of the pin in the plane of the plate. The end of the pin extending from the unstable bone fragment is engaged an opening in the end of the fixation plate and restrained thereat.

Abstract: An implant for applying compression across a fracture site in a bone, the implant comprising a wire element having two spaced adjacent legs adapted to be implanted longitudinally in the bone across the fracture site. The wire element extends outwardly of the bone whereat the legs are bent and extend backwardly into juxtaposition with the legs in the bone and are joined by a U-shaped connecting portion. A tensioning device is engageable with the connecting portion and with a fixation device secured to the bone to apply force to the connection portion and produce tension in the wire element to develop compression across the fracture site.

Abstract: A fixation device for fixing a fracture in a bone structure, in which a fixation pin adapted for penetrating into a stable fragment of a bone structure across a fracture has an end extending from an unstable fragment of the bone structure and a fixation plate adapted for being secured to the stable bone fragment distally from the end of the fixation pin. The fixation plate is engageable with the end of the pin to prevent the pin from backing out of the unstable bone fragment while providing restraint against movement of the pin in the plane of the plate. The end of the pin extending from the unstable bone fragment is engaged an opening in the end of the fixation plate and restrained thereat.

Abstract: An implant for applying compression across a fracture site in a bone, the implant comprising a wire element having two spaced adjacent legs adapted to be implanted longitudinally in the bone across the fracture site. The wire element extends outwardly of the bone whereat the legs are bent and extend backwardly into juxtaposition with the legs in the bone and are joined by a U-shaped connecting portion. A tensioning device is engageable with the connecting portion and with a fixation device secured to the bone to apply force to the connection portion and produce tension in the wire element to develop compression across the fracture site.