Instruments and methods for complete plantar plate repairs

A method of plantar plate repair, comprising:

• performing a longitudinal incision to expose a metatarsophalangeal joint;
• distracting the metatarsophalangeal joint to expose a plantar plate,
• wherein distracting the metatarsophalangeal joint includes spreading a distractor to move a first k-wire that is positioned in a metatarsal bone and a second k-wire that is positioned within a phalangeal bone away from one another, thereby exposing the plantar plate;
• wherein the distractor includes a first handle, a first arm that extends from the first handle, a second handle, and a second arm that extends from the second handle,
• wherein each of the first handle and the second handle includes a finger opening disposed at a proximal most end of the distractor and a pivot pin extending through the first arm and the second arm,
• wherein each of the first arm and the second arm includes a housing that is enlarged relative to the first arm and the second arm,
• wherein the first k-wire is positioned through the housing of the first arm and the second k-wire is positioned through the housing of the second arm when distracting the metatarsophalangeal joint,
• wherein, once the first k-wire is received through the housing of the first arm, the housing of the first arm completely circumscribes an outer circumference of the first k-wire;
• passing a suture through the plantar plate;
• drilling a hole through the phalangeal bone;
• passing the suture through the hole;
• and
• tying a knot in the suture to complete the plantar plate repair.

A method of plantar plate repair, comprising:

• performing a longitudinal incision to expose a metatarsophalangeal joint;
• distracting the metatarsophalangeal joint to expose a plantar plate,
• wherein distracting the metatarsophalangeal joint includes spreading a distractor to move a first k-wire that is positioned in a metatarsal bone and a second k-wire that is positioned within a phalangeal bone away from one another, thereby exposing the plantar plate;
• wherein the distractor includes a first handle, a first arm that extends from the first handle, a second handle, and a second arm that extends from the second handle,
• wherein each of the first handle and the second handle includes a finger opening disposed at a proximal most end of the distractor and a pivot pin extending through the first arm and the second arm,
• wherein the first arm and the second arm each includes a housing that is enlarged relative to the first arm and the second arm,
• wherein each of the housings include a first passage and a second passage,
• wherein surfaces of the housings completely circumscribe the first passages and the second passages,
• wherein the first k-wire is positioned through the first passage or the second passage of the housing of the first arm and the second k-wire is positioned through the first passage or the second passage of the housing of the second arm when distracting the metatarsophalangeal joint;
• passing a suture through the plantar plate;
• drilling a hole through the phalangeal bone;
• passing the suture through the hole;
• and
• tying a knot in the suture to complete the plantar plate repair.