Method of securing a tendon graft with an interference fixation screw

A method of implanting an interference fixation screw made of material that is soft compared to bone in a ligament tunnel in bone comprising the steps of:

• (a) cooling the fixation screw to a temperature that makes it sufficiently rigid so that it will track in a straight line as it is tightened;
• (b) inserting the fixation screw into the ligament tunnel and tightening it to where it is tight and so that it has a portion extending beyond an entrance to the ligament tunnel;
• and
• (c) trimming the portion of the fixation screw that extends beyond the entrance of the ligament tunnel.

A method of affixing in place in a ligament tunnel a tendon graft used to replace a ligament, the tendon graft comprising a section of tendon having a bone graft at each end, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an interference fixation screw made of material that is soft compared to bone;
• (b) cooling each fixation screw before it is inserted into the ligament tunnel to a temperature that makes it sufficiently rigid to track in a straight line as it is tightened in the ligament tunnel;
• (c) securing each bone graft in the ligament tunnel by tightening one of the fixation screws between each bone graft and the bone surrounding the ligament tunnel wherein the fixation screw has a portion extending beyond an entrance to the ligament tunnel after it has been tightened;
• and
• (d) trimming the portion of the fixation screw that extends beyond the entrance to the ligament tunnel.

A method of affixing a tendon graft used to replace a ligament in place in tunnels formed in bones of a joint, the tendon graft comprising a length of tendon having bone grafts at each end, each bone of the joint having a ligament tunnel formed therein, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an interference fixation screw made of material that is soft compared to bone for each bone graft of the tendon graft to be secured in one of the ligament tunnels;
• (b) placing the tendon graft in the ligament tunnels with one of the bone grafts in each of the ligament tunnels;
• (c) securing each of the bone grafts in their respective ligament tunnels with one of the fixation screws by tightening each fixation screw between the bone graft it is securing in place and the bone surrounding the ligament tunnel in which the bone graft was placed wherein each fixation screw has a portion extending beyond an entrance of its respective ligament tunnel after it has been tightened;
• and
• (d) trimming the portion of each fixation screw that extends beyond the entrance to its respective ligament tunnel.

A method of affixing a tendon graft used to replace the anterior cruciate ligament in a knee in place in tunnels formed in the femur and the tibia of the knee, the tendon graft comprising a length of tendon having bone grafts at each end, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an interference fixation screw made of material that is soft compared to bone for each bone graft of the tendon graft to be secured the ligament tunnels in the femur and the tibia;
• (b) placing the tendon graft in the ligament tunnels with one of the bone grafts in each of the ligament tunnels in the femur and the tibia;
• (c) securing each of the bone grafts in their respective ligament tunnels with one of the fixation screws by tightening each fixation screw between the bone graft it is securing in place and the bone surrounding the ligament tunnel in which the bone graft was placed wherein each fixation screw has a portion extending beyond an entrance of its respective ligament tunnel after it has been tightened;
• and
• (d) trimming the portion of each fixation screw that extends beyond the entrance to its respective ligament tunnel.