Extramedullary rod implant for long bones

A method of internal fixation of fractured bone fragments comprising:

• selecting a solid, elongated, cylindrical rod implant having partly tubular end plates,
• making a pair incisions in the skin at the proximal and distal non-fracture ends of the bone fragments in identical lateral locations,
• creating a sub-muscular passageway parallel to said fractured bone fragments to connect said proximal and distal incisions,
• determining the prefracture length of said fractured bone by passing said implant through said incisions and placing said implant in said sub-muscular passageway oriented to the lateral and anterior aspects of the tibia and humerus,
• use of fluoroscopy or plain radiographs, and selecting an implant of approximate length, diameter and rotational alignment to restore said fractured bone to its pre-fracture length, alignment and rotation,
• affixing said tubular plates of said implant to said proximal and distal ends of said fractured bone using screws or other suitable means of fastening said plate to said fractured bone to maintain said bone fragments in stable alignment and rotation.

A method of effecting osteosynthesis of ununited bone fragments comprising:

• selecting a solid, elongated, cylindrical rod implant having partly tubular end plates,
• making a pair incisions in the skin at the proximal and distal ends of the bone fragments in identical lateral locations,
• creating a sub-muscular passageway parallel to said fractured bone fragments to connect said proximal and distal incisions,
• determining the pre-fracture length of said fractured bone by use of fluoroscopy or plain radiographs, and selecting an implant of appropriate length, diameter and rotational alignment to restore said fractured bone to its pre-fracture length, alignment and rotation,
• passing said implant through said incisions and placing said implant in said sub-muscular passageway so that the curve of said implant is oriented to the lateral and anterior aspects of the tibia and humerus,
• affixing said tubular plates of said implant to said proximal and distal ends of said fractured bone using screws or other suitable means of fastening said plate to said fractured bone to maintain said bone fragments in stable alignment and rotation.