Surgical method and apparatus and cannulated scalpel for use therein

An apparatus for providing fixation of a target tissue, the apparatus comprising:

• a guide pin having a target tissue engaging end;
• a cannulated scalpel for making an incision through intervening tissue about the guide pin, the scalpel comprising a hollow, elongated shaft having first and second ends, the first and second ends including openings which allow the shaft to slide over the guide pin, and a head mounted adjacent the second end of the shaft, the head having at least one leading cutting edge projecting outwardly beyond the width of the shaft and adapted to cut along a plane through the intervening tissue as the shaft slides over the guide pin toward the target tissue engaging end of the guide pin;
• and
• a driving tool for driving a cannulated fastener along the guide pin and through the incision to embed the fastener in the target tissue and provide fixation of the target tissue.

A method for providing fixation of a target tissue, the method comprising:

• inserting a guide pin having a target tissue engaging end through intervening tissue and into engagement with the target tissue;
• sliding a cannulated scalpel over the guide pin toward the target tissue engaging end of the guide pin in order to make an incision through the intervening tissue about the guide pin, the cannulated scalpel comprising a hollow, elongated shaft and a head mounted at one end of the shaft, the head having at least one leading cutting edge for cutting along a plane through the intervening tissue;
• removing the cannulated scalpel from the incision along the plane;
• and
• driving a cannulated fastener along the guide pin and through the incision to embed the fastener in the target tissue and provide fixation of the target tissue.