Orthopaedic Plate And Jig For Deep-Surface Transosseous Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthopaedic plate and jig assemblies face issues with skin breakdown due to positioning on surgically accessible bone surfaces, leading to potential limb amputation, and require significant surgical exposure that risks nerve and artery damage when attempting to secure plates on deep bone surfaces.
Innovation Solution
An orthopaedic assembly comprising an orthopaedic plate and jig that allows for transosseous plating, where the plate is inserted through a small incision against a deep bone surface with the jig support external to the limb, guiding fasteners from the superficial surface into the plate bores, minimizing surgical exposure and reducing nerve/artery risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the orthopaedic plate is positioned on a surgically accessible surface of the bone, then the plate can be easily secured with standard fastening methods, but skin breakdown occurs over the plate which can lead to limb amputation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional plating approach by positioning the plate on the opposite (deep/inaccessible) surface of the bone rather than the superficial accessible surface. The jig support extends through the bone to provide access for fastener insertion from the superficial side, allowing the plate to be secured on the deep surface without causing skin breakdown while maintaining ease of operation through the inverted fastening pathway.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the plate is positioned on a deep surface of the bone to avoid skin breakdown, then skin integrity is preserved, but significant surgical exposure is required which risks damage to nerves and arteries
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the functional components into two distinct parts: the orthopaedic plate positioned on the deep bone surface and the jig support extending through the bone to the superficial surface. This segmentation allows the plate to provide structural support on the deep surface while the jig support provides the necessary access pathway for fasteners, eliminating the need for extensive surgical exposure and reducing risk to nerves and arteries.
Solution Approach 2:
The jig support acts as an intermediary element that bridges the deep bone surface (where the plate is positioned) and the superficial accessible surface (where fasteners are inserted). This intermediary structure enables fastener passage through the bone without requiring direct surgical exposure of the deep bone surface, thereby preserving skin integrity and reducing surgical risk.
3Strength
If standard fastening methods are used with the plate on a deep surface, then adequate fixation can be achieved, but the surgical exposure necessary would be too great with significant risk of nerve and artery damage
Solution Approach 1:
The jig support serves as an intermediary tool that enables standard fastening methods to be used for securing the plate on the deep bone surface without requiring direct surgical exposure. The jig support creates a safe passage pathway through the bone for fastener insertion, allowing adequate fixation strength to be achieved while avoiding damage to nerves and arteries that would otherwise be at risk during extensive surgical exposure.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an assembly for securing an orthopaedic plate to a bone e.g. a tibia. The assembly comprises: an orthopaedic plate having an elongate shaft with bone contact surface configured to contact the bone and an opposing surface. The elongate shaft comprises an array of plate bores, each plate bore for receiving a respective fastener. The assembly further comprises a jig comprising an elongate jig support. The elongate shaft of the plate and the elongate jig support are aligned substantially parallel to each other to define a longitudinally-extending bone-receiving space between the bone contact surface of the elongate shaft and the jig support.