Abstract: A surgical awl is provided for orthopaedic applications that include creating or enlarging holes in bone. The awl has a shaft and a cutting tip that has a working end and an opposite attachment end, which mechanically locks in place into a recess formed in the end of the shaft opposite the handle. A release mechanism is provided to allow the user to selectively disengage the cutting tip from the shaft. The awl has a hole-retention sleeve which surrounds at least part of the awl shaft and the awl tip and could be configured to surround the entire shaft and tip. The retention sleeve has a forward cutting edge. A protective sleeve may be used in place of the retention sleeve to protect the manual awl tip release mechanism from being accidentally activated to release the awl tip.

Abstract: A femoral intramedullary rod has a thin or reduced proximal segment so as to provide room for the use of femoral hip screws. Use of the rod for femoral shaft fixation permits subsequent independent treatment of an ipsilateral femoral hip fracture as an isolated injury, regardless of whether initially detected. Different rod embodiments are formed by the omission of different proximal portions of the rod. It is in such portions that the femoral screws may be placed to set hip fractures. The rod is cannulated for installation over a guide wire. Internal rod threads, below the thin proximal segment in some embodiments, are used for initial installation of the rod with a driving member screwed into such threads. Without driving forces on the thin proximal segment, such segment can be made even thinner. Once the rod is seated, hip screws may be installed if there is a detected hip fracture. Subsequent to healing, the femoral screws and interlocking screws (if any) may be removed.

Abstract: A femoral intramedullary rod has a thin or reduced proximal segment so as to provide room for the use of femoral hip screws. Use of the rod for femoral shaft fixation permits subsequent independent treatment of an ipsilateral femoral hip fracture as an isolated injury, regardless of whether initially detected. Different rod embodiments are formed by the omission of different proximal portions of the rod. It is in such portions that the femoral screws may be placed to set hip fractures. The rod is cannulated for installation over a guide wire. Internal rod threads, below the thin proximal segment in some embodiments, are used for initial installation of the rod with a driving member screwed into such threads. Without driving forces on the thin proximal segment, such segment can be made even thinner. Once the rod is seated, hip screws may be installed if there is a detected hip fracture. Subsequent to healing, the femoral screws and interlocking screws (if any) may be removed.