Open wedge osteotomy system and surgical method

Abstract

An osteotomy implant for supporting an open wedge osteotomy, the osteotomy implant comprising: a first component for disposition in a posterior portion of the open wedge osteotomy; a second component for disposition in an anterior portion of the open wedge osteotomy; and a connection device for selectively connecting the first component and the second component to one another.

Description

REFERENCE TO PENDING PRIOR PATENT APPLICATIONS [0001] This patent application claims benefit of: [0002] (1) pending prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 569,545, filed May 7, 2004 by Vincent P. Novak for OPEN WEDGE OSTEOTOMY SYSTEM AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUE (Attorney's Docket No. NOVAK-1 PROV); [0003] (2) pending prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 603,899, filed Aug. 24, 2004 by Vincent P. Novak for OPEN WEDGE OSTEOTOMY SYSTEM AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUE (Attorney's Docket No. NOVAK-2 PROV); and [0004] (3) pending prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 626,305, filed Nov. 9, 2004 by Vincent P. Novak for OPEN WEDGE OSTEOTOMY SYSTEM AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUE (Attorney's Docket No. NOVAK-3 PROV). [0005] The three above-identified patent applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0006] This invention is related to surgical apparatus and methods in general, and more particularly to apparatus and methods for op...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides an osteotomy implant for supporting an open wedge osteotomy, which can be used in orthopedic surgery. The implant has two components that can be connected together using a connection device, allowing for flexibility in its placement and adjustability in its size. The implant can be used in various forms, including a leading edge, base portion, and two opposing side walls. The invention also provides a method for using the implant to support an open wedge osteotomy. The technical effects of the invention include improved stability and reduced complications during surgery, as well as improved outcomes for patients.

Problems solved by technology

The overall community holds the opinion that, first and foremost, the surgical technique of osteotomy is challenging and cumbersome, requiring much practice in the “art” in order to effectively perform and reproduce the osteotomy procedure.

In such a procedure, the failure to properly execute the required precision can lead to a lack of, or postoperative loss of, correction and complications such as delayed union or nonunion, unintended changes to the slope of the tibial plateau, intraarticular fractures, and neurovascular problems.

All of these issues pose a direct risk to a successful surgical outcome.

Also, currently practiced procedures often require a second surgery to remove fixation hardware.

Errors by the surgeon in defining the AP tibial slope can result in an inappropriately-placed osteotomy with unintended changes to the tibial slope, which in turn may affect knee stability.

Errors in the use of hand-driven osteotomes or hand-guided saw blades in creating the bone cut can lead to tibial slope changes, migration of the osteotomy into the joint, and / or injury to neurovasculature and soft tissue structures.

While significant, these advances do not address important issues including, but not limited to, the reduction of the surgical learning curve to make the procedures more reproducible, the improvement of the surgical precision of osteotomy procedures, the reduction in the use of fluoroscopy, and the fact that internal fixation devices used in an open wedge osteotomy effectively stress-shield the osteotomy or fracture site.

Such stress-shielding is often a factor in complications involving nonunion and loss of correction.

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