Foot beam insert

A foot beam insert comprising:

• a monolithic, load-bearing, cannulated beam having a longitudinal axis, the beam comprising a threaded tip end having a first length and, on an opposite end of the beam, a cap end having a third length, and an unthreaded body of the beam between the threaded tip end and the cap end, the unthreaded body having a second length, wherein the second length is greater than the first length and the third length and comprises a majority of the beam length;
• the unthreaded body of the beam including a groove helically arranged around and cut in an outside surface of the unthreaded body and terminating proximally of the threaded tip end, the groove being shallower and narrower than roots of threads of said threaded tip end such that the outside surface is substantially smooth outside of said groove and the unthreaded body is adapted to support a weight of a patient;
• wherein from a side view, a crest of said threads of said threaded tip end creates a first slope with said longitudinal axis and a root of said groove creates a second slope with said longitudinal axis, wherein said second slope is steeper than said first slope;
• wherein a distance between adjacent roots of said groove is greater than a distance between adjacent crests of said threads of said threaded tip end;
• wherein said threads of said threaded tip end of the beam have a first outside diameter, said unthreaded body of the beam has a second outside diameter extending over substantially the entire second length of said unthreaded body, and said cap end has a third outside diameter, wherein said second outside diameter is greater than said first outside diameter and said second outside diameter is greater than said third outside diameter, wherein said second outside diameter is greater than a diameter of any portion of said cap end, wherein said second outside diameter is greater than said first outside diameter of any portion of said threads, and wherein said second outside diameter is greater than or substantially equal to an outside diameter of any other portion of said cannulated beam;
• and
• wherein the unthreaded body of the beam defines a hollow chamber therein and the unthreaded body of the beam comprises holes through the unthreaded body of the beam that communicate between the chamber and the outside surface of the unthreaded body.