US 2017/0303910 A1 · SUTURE CONSTRUCTS FOR LIGAMENT REPAIR AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention describe methods of implanting and setting an adjustable suture structure capable of maximizing and controlling the available range of motion in a defective joint. The adjustable suture structure can augment a joint repair following surgery or be used as a standalone construct. One embodiment involves completion of a standard ligament repair, followed by the implant of anchors to secure sutures between bone locations proximal to the native origin of the repaired ligaments. Each of the sutures is implanted with at least some slack. Once the sutures are secured, the first suture is alternatively tensioned and moved through a range of motion, followed by the same process in a second suture. The steps are performed iteratively until the range of motion is controlled or limited sufficiently to protect the repaired ligaments.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of joint stabilization using a suture configuration to stabilize a joint comprising:

implanting a first anchor into a first location in a bone, a suture having first and second ends loaded into the first anchor;
loading at least one of the first and second ends of the suture into a second anchor;
implanting the second anchor into a second location in a bone such that there is slack in a portion of the suture between the first anchor and the second anchor;
and
alternatively or simultaneously, tensioning the suture and moving the joint through a range of motion until the tensioning increases tension in the suture to a final tension at which the range of motion of the joint is limited to prevent over-exertion of the joint in at least one direction of motion.

2 more elements

A method of joint stabilization using one or more sutures to stabilize a joint comprising:

tensioning a first suture connected to a first bone at a first location and a second bone at a second location, the first location corresponding to a first native origin of a first ligament and the second location corresponding to a second native origin of the first ligament;
alternatively or simultaneously, moving the joint through a range of motion and tensioning the first suture to determine a range of motion of the first bone relative to the second bone available with incremental levels of tension;
ceasing the tensioning of the first suture and moving of the joint prior to reaching a first tension, the first tension limiting the range of motion sufficiently to prevent over-exertion of the joint in at least one direction of motion;
tensioning a second suture connected to the first bone at a first location and a third bone at a second location, the first location corresponding to the first native origin of a second ligament and the second location corresponding to a second native origin of the second ligament;
alternatively or simultaneously, moving the joint through a range of motion and tensioning the second suture to determine a range of motion of the first bone relative to the third bone available with incremental levels of tension;
ceasing the tensioning of the second suture and moving of the joint prior to reaching a second tension wherein the range of motion is sufficiently limited to prevent over-exertion of the joint in at least one direction of motion;
and
repeating the tensioning and moving steps for the first and second sutures one or more times until the tension in the first and second sutures limits the range of motion in the joint in at least one direction of motion.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Suture constructs for ligament repair and methods of use thereof

Life of this patent

Suture constructs for ligament repair and methods of use thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20