Apparatus for correcting long bone deformation

Method for correcting deformation of a small long bone in the human body, comprising the steps of:

• providing a bone holding device including a rigid elongate body with two rectilinear main segments joined together. first anchor means on the first main segment of the body adapted to be fixed transversely into the bone, the first anchor means including at least one pin extending in a direction substantially at a particular angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the first main segment of the body, second anchor means on the second main segment of the body adapted to be fixed transversely in the bone, the two main segments being joined together by an angled joining area at an angle which is substantially equal to the required angular correction to be applied to the bone, said body being made from a material and having a shape adapted to withstand without breaking and to retain permanent angular deformation in the angled joining area, the angled joining area having a thickness substantially smaller than its width:
• in an intermediate area of said small long bone, using a bone saw. providing an epiphysis-diaphysis osteotomy avoiding the exterior cortical bone tissue and making an angular space in the bone at an angle equal to the required angular correction.
• using an appropriate drilling guide, boring two parallel tunnels into the spongy proximal part of the epiphysis of said small long bone, at said angle to the longitudinal axis of the bone, the tunnels being positioned so that the angled joining area of the bone holding device is substantially in line with the osteotomy;
• inserting the pins of the first anchor means into the tunnels bored in the proximal part of said bone;
• immobilizing temporarily said bone holding device by inserting a diaphysis pin through an appropriate hole:
• verifying correct alignment of the bone in all planes;
• and
• permanently fixing the bone holding device by a bone screw in the bone.

Instrument for correcting deformation of small long bones in the human body comprising at least one bone holding device (21) including:

• a rigid elongate body (1) having two rectilinear main segments (2, 3) joined together,
• the two main segments being joined together by an angled joining area at a first angle which can be varied so that it is substantially equal to a required angular correction to be applied to the bone,
• first anchor means (5) on the first main segment (2) of the body (1) adapted to be fixed transversely into a bone, the first anchor means (5) including at least one pin (6, 7) extending in a direction substantially at a second angle (B) relative to the longitudinal axis of the first main segment (2) of the body (1),
• second anchor means (9) on the second main segment (3) of the body (1) adapted to be fixed transversely in the bone at a subsequent stage, after fixing of the first anchor means (5),
• wherein:
• said body (1) is made from a material and has a shape adapted to withstand without breaking and to retain permanent angular deformation in the angled joining area (4),
• the angled joining area has a thickness (E) substantially smaller than its width (L1),
• so that the equipment is adapted to be bent by means of a bending device to obtain the required correction and after an opening osteotomy (23) or a closing osteotomy (27) between two adjacent portions of small long bones at said first angle substantially equal to the required correction, the first anchor means (5) of the device can be anchored in the bone in a direction at said second angle (B) to the longitudinal axis of the bone, with the angled joining area (4) in line with the osteotomy (23, 27), and the device (21) determines a required angular offset between the two adjacent bone portions, subsequent anchoring of the second anchor means (9) fixing the angular offset,
• wherein the instrument includes a drilling guide for boring penetration holes for the first anchor means (5) in a direction at said second angle (B) to the longitudinal axis of the bone and a bending device adapted to shape the body (1) of the first bone holding device (21) to the required angle (A).