Orthopedic intramedullary nail system for greater trochanter fixation
AssigneesSmith & Nephew, Inc., Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited
InventorsJordan Rakes, Charles R. Bennett, Paul Tornetta, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An intramedullary (“IM”) nail system, and corresponding method, for fractured fixation of a patient's greater trochanter is disclosed. In some examples, the IM nail system includes an IM nail and a plate or washer. In use, the plate or washer includes one or more holes or openings for enabling a bone screw to pass through the plate or washer to engage a corresponding hole formed in the IM nail. Thus arranged, in use, the IM nail system facilitates fixation of the patient's greater trochanter by securing and/or compressing the patient's greater trochanter between the plate or washer and the IM nail.
Claims12
An intramedullary (“IM”) nail system arranged and configured to facilitate greater trochanter fracture fixation, the IM nail system comprising:
- an IM nail including a body, a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a plurality of screw openings;
- a washer including an outer surface, a bone contacting surface, and at least one opening extending between the outer surface and the bone contacting surface;
- and
- a bone screw;
- wherein, in use, with the IM nail implanted within an intramedullary canal of a patient's femur and with the bone contacting surface of the washer positioned against the patient's greater trochanter, the bone screw is inserted through the opening formed in the washer and into one of the plurality of screw openings formed in the IM nail.
A method of fixing a patient's greater trochanter, the method comprising:
- inserting an IM nail into an intramedullary canal of a patient's femur;
- positioning a washer adjacent the patient's greater trochanter;
- and
- inserting a bone screw through an opening formed in the washer and into a screw opening formed in the IM nail.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.