Abstract: An apparatus for placement at an anatomical site, the apparatus including an orthopedic implant, which includes a front end, a rear end, a top, a bottom, a right side, a left side, and a central part connecting the right and left sides. The top surface of the implant has a top surface defining a first sloping surface running downwardly from the front end to the rear end of the implant, and the implant having a second sloping surface running downwardly from one side to the opposite side of the implant, and the first and second sloping surfaces are perpendicular to each other. At least a portion of the implant is shaped to define a porous matrix, the porous matrix being shaped to define a plurality of pores that extend through the porous matrix, the pores being sized to receive inserted bone graft material into the pores.

Abstract: Method for rotating and increasing a distance of a patella from the trochlea of a subject includes creating an osteotomy in a tibia of the subject, and inserting, along an axis of insertion, an orthopedic implant into the osteotomy, bone graft material being coupled to the orthopedic implant. The method also includes rotating a patella of the subject, via a patellar tendon of the subject, about the axis of insertion, by rotating a tuberosity of the tibia of the subject about the axis of insertion, and increasing a distance of the patella from a trochlea of a femur of the subject, via the patellar tendon of the subject, by pivoting the tuberosity of the tibia with respect to a point of contact between the tuberosity of the tibia and another portion of the tibia. The implant is shaped to define one or more passageways passing through the implant.

Abstract: An apparatus for placement at an anatomical site, the apparatus including an orthopedic implant, which includes a front end, a rear end, a top, a bottom, a right side, a left side, and a central part connecting the right and left sides. The top surface of the implant has a top surface defining a first sloping surface running downwardly from the front end to the rear end of the implant, and the implant having a second sloping surface running downwardly from one side to the opposite side of the implant, and the first and second sloping surfaces are perpendicular to each other. At least a portion of the implant is shaped to define a porous matrix, the porous matrix being shaped to define a plurality of pores that extend through the porous matrix, the pores being sized to receive inserted bone graft material into the pores.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for placement at an anatomical site, including an orthopedic implant, which has front and rear ends, a top and bottom, right and left sides, and a central part connecting the sides. A distance between the top and the bottom is (a) greater at a first location at one of the sides than at a second location opposite the first location at the other side, and (b) greater at a third location at the front end than at a fourth location opposite the third location at the rear end. At least a portion of the implant is a porous matrix, which is shaped to define pores that extend through the porous matrix in at least each of: (a) a front-to-rear direction, (b) a left-to-right direction, and (c) a top-to-bottom direction.

Abstract: A method for operating on a subject includes providing an orthopedic implant having a front end, a rear end, a top, a bottom, a right side, and a left side, a distance between the top and bottom being (a) greater at a first location at one of the sides than at a second location opposite the first location at the other one of the sides, and (b) greater at a third location at the front end than at a fourth location opposite the third location at the rear end. The implant has one or more passageways passing therethrough, creating an osteotomy at an anatomical site. When inserting the implant along an axis of insertion into the anatomical site, an angular orientation of a first portion of bone is changed with respect to a second portion of bone by rotating the first portion of bone about (a) the axis of insertion, and (b) an axis perpendicular to the axis of insertion.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described, including an orthopedic implant for implanting in an anatomical site. The implant comprises a front end, a rear end, a top, a bottom, a right side, and a left side. A distance between the top and the bottom is (a) greater at a first location at one of the sides than at a second location opposite the first location at the other one of the sides, and (b) greater at a third location at the front end than at a fourth location opposite the third location at the rear end. The implant is shaped to define one or more passageways passing through the implant. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: An immobilization device includes a torso brace positioned around a subject's torso, a leg brace configured to be coupled around a respective leg of the subject, a connecting rod for each leg brace and at least one torso-brace joint assembly. Each joint assembly is coupled to the torso brace and a respective connecting rod and includes a torso-brace ball-and-socket joint and a torso-brace locking mechanism. The locking mechanism has an unlocked state in which pivoting of the connecting rod relative to the torso brace is possible, and a locked state in which such pivoting is prevented. A leg-brace joint assembly is coupled to each leg brace and its connecting rod, and includes a leg-brace ball-and-socket joint and a leg-brace locking mechanism having an unlocked state in which pivoting of the respective connecting rod relative to its leg brace is possible, and a locked state in which such pivoting is prevented.

Abstract: An orthopedic immobilization method using a device having a torso brace positioned around a subject's torso, a leg brace positioned around a respective leg of the subject, a connecting rod for each leg brace and at least one torso-brace joint assembly. Each joint assembly is coupled to the torso brace and a respective connecting rod and includes a torso-brace ball-and-socket joint and a torso-brace locking mechanism. The locking mechanism has an unlocked state in which pivoting of the connecting rod relative to the torso brace is possible, and a locked state in which such pivoting is prevented. A leg-brace joint assembly is coupled to each leg brace and its connecting rod, and includes a leg-brace ball-and-socket joint and a leg-brace locking mechanism having an unlocked state in which pivoting of the respective connecting rod relative to its leg brace is possible, and a locked state in which such pivoting is prevented.

Abstract: Method to attach two sections of bone together in which a telescoping screw system is positioned through a hole of a fixation device attached to a first section of bone while the screw system is in a closed configuration in which the screw body is telescoped inside the screw barrel. The screw body is then advanced relative to the screw barrel to cause penetration of the forward, threaded end of the screw body into a second section of bone, and thereby bring the screw system toward an open configuration in which the screw body is telescoped outside the screw barrel. The screw barrel is also engaged to the fixation device via a cooperating engagement mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a fracture of a bone of a subject includes an intramedullary (IM) nail insertable into a medullary canal of the bone of the subject. The IM nail has a proximal head that defines at least one hole therethrough. A sleeve, which includes a locking mechanism, is engaged with the hole when the sleeve is inserted in the hole. This engagement prevents rotational movement between the sleeve and the nail and inward and outward longitudinal movement of the sleeve relative to the nail.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating a fracture of a bone of a subject including an intramedullary (IM) nail insertable into a medullary canal of the bone of the subject. The IM nail has a proximal head that defines at least one hole therethrough. A sleeve, which includes a locking mechanism, is engaged with the hole when the sleeve is inserted in the hole. This engagement prevents rotational movement between the sleeve and the nail and inward and outward longitudinal movement of the sleeve relative to the nail.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided, including at least one double-jointed bone fixation element. A rod is coupled to the bone fixation element. A rod retaining portion retains the rod in place with respect to the bone fixation element. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating a fracture of a bone of a subject including an intramedullary (IM) elongate member insertable into a medullary canal of a first part of the bone of the subject, and having a proximal head defining at least one hole therethrough. A sleeve includes an engagement mechanism and is arranged to engage one of the at least one hole when the sleeve is within that hole. This engagement restricts rotational and longitudinal movement between the sleeve and the elongate member after the sleeve is engaged with that hole. A screw or pin is movably arranged inside the sleeve for securing a second part of the bone to the first part of the bone, i.e., the part into which the elongate member is inserted.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for use with a bone fixation device. The apparatus includes a targeting device, adapted to aid in fixation of the bone fixation device to a bone of a subject. The targeting device includes a coupling element, adapted to couple the targeting device to the bone fixation device. The targeting device additionally includes a coupling assembly, adapted to hold the coupling element and to inhibit the coupling element from exiting the coupling assembly even when the coupling element is not coupled to the bone fixation device.