Orthopedic device providing metered toe traction with variable adduction, dorsiflexion and rotation angles including lateral glide of the first metatarsal head

An apparatus configured to apply traction to a big toe of a patient's foot at a desired adduction angle and a desired dorsiflexion angle, for use in treating a bunion, said apparatus comprising:

• a cable;
• means for releasably securing said cable to at least a distal phalange of the big toe of the patient's foot;
• a shoe portion, said shoe portion comprising:
• a sole, said sole comprising a substantially flat interior surface configured to support a bottom of the patient's foot;
• a pair of flaps each extending from a respective side of said sole an amount to overlap over the top of the patient's foot;
• a first strap and a second strap, said first and second straps configured to secure the patient's foot to said sole;
• a support bracket, said support bracket comprising a first portion and a second portion, a proximal end of said first portion of said support bracket mounted to pivot with respect to said shoe portion at a pivot axis, to adjust an adduction angle of said cable with respect to an axial direction of said sole, said pivot axis being substantially perpendicular to said substantially flat interior surface of said sole, said first portion of said support bracket configured to extend substantially perpendicular to said pivot axis, and said second portion of said support bracket configured to extend away from a distal end of said first portion and to terminate at an elevated position with respect to said sole;
• an adjustment member, said adjustment member mounted to slide relative to said second portion, to adjust a dorsiflexion angle provided by said cable independent of said adduction angle;
• wherein a portion of said cable is supported by said adjustment member;
• a securement apparatus configured to releasably secure said first portion of said support bracket at said pivot axis with respect to said shoe portion, at a first pivot position to provide a first adduction angle for said cable, and at least a second pivot position to provide a second adduction angle for said cable;
• means for releasably securing said adjustment member with respect to said second portion of said support bracket at a first elevated position for providing a first dorsiflexion angle for said cable to reposition the big toe to a first repositioned angle with respect to said sole, and at least a second elevated position for providing a second dorsiflexion angle for said cable to reposition the big toe at a second repositioned angle with respect to said sole;
• means for applying an amount of tension to said cable;
• and
• wherein said first strap is configured to counter said amount of tension in said cable with respect to said adduction angle, whereby said first strap is securable over the top of the patient's foot in proximity to the ankle of the patient's foot;
• and
• wherein said second strap is configured to counter said amount of tension in said cable with respect to each said dorsiflexion angle to immobilize the patient's foot, whereby said second strap is securable over the top of the patient's foot in proximity to the toes of the patient's foot, such that said amount of tension in said cable at each said dorsiflexion angle repositions only the big toe with respect to said sole.

An apparatus configured to apply traction longitudinally to a big toe of a patient's foot, being further configured to reorient the traction to a desired angle, for use in treating a bunion, said apparatus comprising:

• a cable;
• means for releasably securing a first end of said cable to at least a distal phalange of the big toe of the patient's foot;
• a shoe portion;
• means for applying a specific amount of tension to said cable;
• a support bracket, said support bracket comprising a first portion and a second portion, a proximal end of said first portion of said support bracket being mounted to pivot with respect to said shoe portion at a pivot axis, to reorient the specific amount of tension in said cable to an adduction angle of said cable with respect to an axial direction of said shoe portion, said first portion of said support bracket configured to extend substantially perpendicular to said pivot axis, and said second portion of said support bracket configured to extend away from a distal end of said first portion and to terminate at an elevated position with respect to said shoe portion;
• an adjustment member, said adjustment member mounted to slide relative to said second portion, to adjust a dorsiflexion angle provided by said cable independent of said adduction angle;
• wherein a portion of said cable is supported by said adjustment member;
• means for releasably securing said first portion of said support bracket with respect to said shoe portion, at least at a first pivot position for providing the specific amount of tension at an adduction angle of zero degrees, and at least at a second pivot position for providing the specific amount of tension at a non-zero-degree adduction angle;
• means for releasably securing said adjustment member with respect to said second portion of said support bracket at a first position for providing a dorsiflexion angle of zero degrees for said cable, and at least at a first elevated position for providing the specific amount of tension at a non-zero-degree dorsiflexion angle;
• and
• means for securing said shoe portion to the foot of the patient for countering the specific amount of tension in said cable with respect to said non-zero-degree adduction angle and for countering the specific amount of tension in said cable with respect to said non-zero-degree dorsiflexion angle, for repositioning of only the big toe of the patient's foot with respect to said shoe portion.