Bone repair system and method

#This invention relates to a system and method for the repair of fractured or broken bones, such as ribs.

#A flail chest is a condition that occurs when multiple adjacent ribs are broken, separating a segment of the chest wall so that it becomes detached from the rest of the chest wall and moves independently therefrom. This detached segment moves in the opposite direction as the rest of the chest wall, moving inward while the rest of the chest is moving outward and vice versa, creating “paradoxical motion” that increases the effort and pain involved in breathing.

#Most rib fractures are treated conservatively using pain management and/or bracing techniques. Fractured ribs in a flail chest treated in such a manner may undergo progressive displacement during the healing phase, resulting in considerable deformity, volume loss, atelectasis, and chronic pain. Long-term problems of patients with flail chest injuries treated nonoperatively include subjective chest tightness, thoracic cage pain, and dyspnea.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a trocar in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the trocar engaged with a patient's rib;

#FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a bone plate in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;

#As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

#The present invention provides a system and method for repairing fractured or broken bones, such as ribs. The system and method according to the present invention allow bone repair to be performed in a minimally invasive manner, thereby lessening patient recovery time. Although the system and method are shown and described herein as being applied to the repair of fractured ribs, it is understood that their application to the repair of other broken bones is fully contemplated. For example, the system and method according to the present invention may also be utilized for the minimally invasive repair of bone segments such as a fractured clavicle, fractured tibia, fractured pelvis, fractured spine, or fractured joint surface where there are displaced and/or multiple bone fragments that would otherwise require a large open surgical exposure to repair.

#In overview, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, fixation of bone segments such as fractured ribs includes the placement of tethered repair components through a percutaneous skin incision down to the bone and delivery of repair components into the pleural space. Assistance may be provided by a video-thorascope, imaging technologies, or other minimally invasive observation method. The tethered repair components include a reinforcing member, such as a bone plate, and a fastener assembly, such as a screw and nut or other compressive fastener assembly, wherein the broken rib segment is stabilized by securing the bone plate against the rib with the fastener assembly. The bone plate may be attached to the rib on its internal surface, the side of the rib lining the pleural space. The tether, such as a cable or rod, serves to facilitate the procedure by guiding and providing control over the repair components, and to provide safety and efficiency for the surgeon.