Apparatus and method for suture attachment

A method of attaching suture thread to bone which comprises the steps of:

• a. providing a bone screw comprising a biocompatible body having a proximal end and a distal end, said body including exterior screw threads for inserting and retaining said body into the bone, said body defining a passageway extending therethrough, the passageway including a central portion and a distal portion, the central portion being sized to receive a suture thread therethrough, the distal portion being sized to receive a suture thread knot, the central portion being sized smaller than the distal portion, the central portion being sufficiently large as to receive a suture thread therethrough but sufficiently small as to prevent a suture thread knot from being drawn therethrough, said body further defining means for cooperating with an external drive tool for rotating said body and for thereby driving said body into the bone;
• b. passing suture thread through the passageway of the body of said bone screw to extend from the distal end;
• c. tying a knot in the suture thread extending from the distal end of the passageway;
• d. withdrawing the suture thread from the proximal end of said bone screw and thereby drawing the knot into the distal section until it abuts the central portion having a smaller cross-sectional area, thereby blocking the passage of the knot;
• and
• e. inserting said bone screw into the bone.