Bone anchor and related instrumentation and methods

A fixation element for an orthopedic procedure, the fixation element comprising:

• a bone anchor assembly including:
• an outer anchor tube defining a longitudinal axis of the bone anchor assembly and a longitudinal channel, the outer anchor tube having a first portion including a first end, and a plurality of fingers circumferentially spaced from one another about the longitudinal axis, each of the fingers extending from the first portion and having a free end, wherein the fingers are configured to project laterally at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and are further configured to be deflectable radially inward to allow the outer anchor tube to be disposed within a tubular cannula for deployment;
• and
• a tubular insert having a head including an opening therein, a shank extending from the head having an open end, and a longitudinal bore extending from the opening in the head to the open end of the shank, the shank sized to be received in the longitudinal channel,
• wherein the outer anchor tube and the tubular insert are configured to be secured together upon complete insertion of the shank into the longitudinal channel;
• a suture assembly coupled to the bone anchor assembly and including:
• an adjustable suture loop;
• and
• a knot configured for facilitating tightening of the suture loop,
• wherein the bone anchor assembly is coupled to the adjustable suture loop.

A method of deploying a fixation element for use in an orthopedic repair procedure, the method comprising:

• forming a first bore within a first bone proximate tissue to be repaired;
• positioning a cannula within the bore, the cannula releasably receiving at least a portion of a fixation element including a bone anchor assembly including:
• an outer anchor tube defining a longitudinal axis of the bone anchor assembly and a longitudinal channel, the outer anchor tube having a first portion including a first end, and a plurality of fingers circumferentially spaced from one another about the longitudinal axis, each of the fingers extending from the first portion and having a free end, wherein the fingers are configured to project laterally at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and are further configured to be deflectable radially inward, wherein the cannula retains the fingers in the inward deflected configuration for delivery;
• and
• a tubular insert having a head including an opening therein, a shank extending from the head having an open end, and a longitudinal bore extending from the opening in the head to the open end of the shank, the longitudinal bore configured to receive a portion of a suture assembly for an orthopedic treatment, the shank sized to be received in the longitudinal channel, wherein the outer anchor tube and the tubular insert are configured to be locked together upon complete insertion of the shank into the longitudinal channel;
• and
• removing the cannula while leaving the bone anchor assembly within the bore, wherein removing the cannula allows the fingers to project radially outward at an oblique angle to engage a surface within the bore.