Odontoid bullet

Abstract

Cervical fixation devices, systems and methods for repairing odontoid fractures to the C2 vertebral body, including an anchoring feature that crosses the fracture site to be positioned external to the fractured bone fragment and which provides compressive and radial forces externally to the bone to immobilize the bone fragment(s) for fixation to the main bone structure.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62 / 199,961 entitled “ODONTOID BULLET,” filed Jul. 31, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates generally to fixation and anchoring systems for surgical applications and, in particular, relates to an adjustable retaining system for anchoring bone fragments in spine surgery.BACKGROUND[0003]In order to effect natural healing of a fractured bone, the fractured portions of the bone must generally be kept together for a lengthy period of time in order to permit the recalcification and bonding of the fractured portions to the remaining bone. In many cases, adjoining portions of a fractured bone can be repositioned and maintained in an adjacent relationship (to allow healing of the bone) by being clamped together or otherwise attached to one another by means of a pin or a s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]In one exemplary embodiment, a distal bullet fixation device specifically adapted for treating odontoid fractures is disclosed herein. Desirably, the bullet device can be advanced through a passage or channel formed through the C2 body and the odontoid fragment (desirably crossing the fracture site), and then rotated to present an enlarged cross-section to the passage. A flexible fixation member attached to the bullet can then be tensioned, desirably drawing the odontoid fragment into intimate contact with the remaining C2 body. If desired, the flexible fixation member can be secured to a proximal anchor button, which secures and tensions the fixation member in a desired manner, thereby apply...

Problems solved by technology

In various areas of the body, such as in the cranium or spinal bones, fracture fixation can often experience a host of special problems and concerns due to the location of the bones, blood vessels, the spinal cord and other nerve tissues (and other anatomy) as well as the significant impact any injury can have on the patient, their reha...

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