Methods and Implants for Treating Hammertoe and Other Deformities

A surgical method for bone fixation and stabilization on a patient, comprising:

• exposing at least a portion of a first phalanx and a second phalanx at a joint of a patient, the first phalanx being more proximal than the second phalanx;
• creating a passage in an intramedullary canal of the first phalanx;
• inserting more than 60% of a fixation device into the passage in the intramedullary canal past the cancellous bone in the phalanx until a first head portion of the fixation device engages the subchondral bone at a base of the first phalanx, the fixation device having an opposing second head portion extending out of the passage from the first phalanx;
• and
• introducing the second phalanx onto the second head portion so that the second head portion anchors in the second phalanx.

An intramedullary fixation device used in bone fixation and stabilization on a patient, comprising:

• a longitudinally extending rigid body having a rigidity sufficient to withstand a bending load applied by the phalanges;
• a distal head disposed at a distal end of the body and sized for insertion into an intramedullary canal of a first phalanx of the patient, the distal head having a diameter greater than 2.5 mm and being configured to anchor in cancellous bone of the first phalanx of the patient;
• and
• a proximal head disposed at a proximal end of the body and sized for insertion into an intramedullary canal of a second phalanx of the patient, the proximal head having a diameter of about 2.5 mm or smaller, the proximal head being configured to anchor in subchondral bone of the second phalanx of the patient.

A surgical method for bone fixation and stabilization on a patient, comprising:

• exposing a proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) joining a proximal phalanx and an intermediate phalanx, and a distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) joining a the intermediate phalanx and a distal phalanx;
• creating a hole entirely through the intermediate phalanx;
• creating a hole into the proximal phalanx;
• inserting a first head portion of a fixation device through the hole in the intermediate phalanx and into the hole in the proximal phalanx so that an opposing second end of the fixation device extends out of the passage from the intermediate phalanx;
• and
• introducing the distal phalanx onto the second head portion so that the second head portion anchors in the distal phalanx.

A surgical method for bone fixation and stabilization on a patient, comprising:

• exposing a proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) joining a first phalanx and a second phalanx, and a distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) joining the second phalanx and a third phalanx;
• inserting a first head portion of a fixation device entirely through the second phalanx and into the first phalanx until the first head portion engages subchondral bone in a proximal base of the first phalanx, and so that an opposing second end of the fixation device extends out of the passage from the second phalanx;
• and
• introducing the third phalanx onto the second head portion so that the second head portion anchors in the third phalanx.

An intramedullary fixation device used in bone fixation and stabilization on a patient, comprising:

• a longitudinally extending rigid body having a rigidity sufficient to withstand bending loading applied by phalanges of the patient, the rigid body having a length sufficient to span two adjacent joints formed between adjacent phalanges;
• a distal head disposed at a distal end of the body and sized for insertion into an intramedullary canal of a first phalanx of the patient, the distal head having a diameter greater than 2.5 mm and being configured to anchor in cancellous bone of the first phalanx of the patient;
• and
• a proximal head disposed at a proximal end of the body and sized for insertion into an intramedullary canal of a second phalanx of the patient, the proximal head having a diameter of about 2.5 mm or smaller, the proximal head being configured to anchor in subchondral bone of the second phalanx of the patient.