Apparatus for reducing a fracture

Apparatus for use with a guide wire for reducing a fractured femur, the guide wire being of a generally uniform diameter and having an enlarged distal end portion for placement into the medullary canal of the fractured femur, comprising:

• a. shaft means having distal and proximal ends and being configured and dimensioned for passage and entry of its distal end into and within the medullary canal of the fractured femur through a suitably sized aperture to accommodate passage of said shaft means into the medullary canal and for manipulating at least either said shaft means or the guide wire into and within the respective medullary canal portions of the fractured femur by repositioning the various bone fragments in their proper relative arrangement, said shaft means having graduations along a portion thereof and a bore along its length, said bore having a diameter greater than the diameter of the guide wire to allow selective passage of the guide wire through said bore;
• and
• b. measurement sleeve means configured and dimensioned for movement over at least the graduation portion of said shaft means outside of the medullary canal, so as to permit determination of the length of a nail to be inserted into the medullary canal of the reduced bone, said measurement sleeve means comprising a tubular sleeve movable at least along a portion of said shaft, said tubular sleeve having a body portion with extended flange ends.

Method for reducing a fractured bone, having a medullary canal, comprising:

• a. exposing at least a portion of the fractured bone as an entry site into the medullary canal of the fractured bone;
• b. drilling at said entry site an entry hole into the medullary canal;
• c. inserting a fracture reducing apparatus with a guide wire therein through the entry hole into and within the medullary canal, the apparatus comprising shaft means having distal and proximal ends and being configured and dimensioned for passage through said entry hole for manipulating into and within the medullary canal by translational and rotational movements so as to reduce the fractured bone, said shaft means having a bore along its length for passage of the guide wire;
• d. manipulating at least one of either said shaft means or the guide wire through the medullary canals of the fragment portions of the fractured bone so as to reduce the fracture by repositioning the various bone fragments in their proper relative arrangement;
• e. providing measurement sleeve means on said shaft means prior to insertion through said entry hole, said measurement sleeve means configured and dimensioned for movement over at least a portion of said shaft means, so as to permit determination of the length of a nail to be inserted into the medullary canal of the reduced bone, said measurement sleeve means comprising a tubular sleeve movable at least along a portion of said shaft, said tubular sleeve having a body portion with extended flange ends;
• f. advancing the distal end of the guide wire generally into contact with the distal end of the medullary canal;
• g. positioning said fracture reducing apparatus so that its proximal end is flush with the proximal end of the guide wire;
• h. positioning said measurement means so as to abut the exposed portion of the fractured bone;
• and
• i. determining from said measurement means the length of the nail or rod to be inserted through the medullary canal for fixating the fracture.

Method for reducing a fractured femur having a medullary canal, comprising:

• a. exposing at least a portion of the proximal end of the fractured femur as an entry site into the medullary canal of the fracture femur;
• b. drilling at said entry site an entry hole into the medullary canal;
• c. inserting a fracture reducing apparatus with a guide wire therein through the entry hole into and within the medullary canal, the guide wire being of a generally uniform diameter and having an enlarged distal end portion for placement into the medullary canal of the fractured femur, the apparatus comprising a hollow elongated shaft of a generally uniform diameter along its length and having distal and proximal ends and being configured and dimensioned for passage through said entry hole for manipulating into and within the medullary canal portions by translational and rotational movements so as to reduce the fractured femur, said shaft having a bore along its length for passage of the guide wire;
• d. manipulating at least one of either said shaft or the guide wire through the medullary canals of the fragment portions of the fractured femur so as to reduce the fracture by repositioning the various bone fragments in their proper relative arrangement;
• e. providing a measurement tubular sleeve on said shaft prior to insertion through said entry hole, said measurement tubular sleeve configured and dimensioned for movement over at least a portion of said shaft having graduations therein so as to permit determination of the length of a nail to be inserted into the medullary canal of the reduced bone, said measurement sleeve means comprising a tubular sleeve movable at least along a portion of said shaft, said tubular sleeve having a body portion with extended flange ends;
• f. advancing the distal end of the guide wire generally into contact with the distal end of the medullary canal;
• g. positioning said fracture reducing apparatus so that its proximal end is flush with the proximal end of the guide wire;
• h. positioning said measurement tubular sleeve so as to abut the exposed portion of the fractured bone;
• and
• i. determining from said measurement tubular sleeve the length of the nail or rod to be inserted through the medullary canal for fixating the fracture.