Surgical Assembly for Elevating Depressed Bone Fragments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Depression fractures in joint articulating surfaces caused by high force impact during sporting activities lead to collapsed bone fragments that depress into softer cancellous bone, requiring stabilization to prevent post-traumatic osteoarthritis, which existing surgical methods fail to effectively address.
Innovation Solution
A surgical assembly comprising a cannula and an obturator with a blunt, curved tip that extends beyond the cannula's distal end, allowing for the manipulation and elevation of depressed bone fragments to their original anatomical position, followed by injection of a repair material to stabilize the joint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing surgical methods are used for depression fractures, then the procedure is simple, but the effectiveness in stabilizing the joint and preventing post-traumatic osteoarthritis is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical assembly is divided into separate components: a cannula for access and an obturator for manipulation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system effectiveness in elevating bone fragments and stabilizing the joint.
Solution Approach 2:
The obturator is designed to be received within the cannula, creating a nested configuration. This nesting allows the surgical assembly to access the fracture site through a single puncture while housing multiple functional elements, thereby improving joint stabilization capability without proportionally increasing procedural complexity.
2Ease of operation
If a sharp instrument is used to access depressed bone fragment, then access is easier, but the risk of damaging surrounding tissue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The obturator features a blunt tip that extends beyond the cannula distal end, providing a cushioning effect during bone fragment manipulation. This pre-designed blunt interface allows effective elevation of the depressed fragment while preventing damage to surrounding soft tissues and articular cartilage.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a sharp instrument to cut or pierce the bone fragment, the invention inverts the approach by using a blunt instrument to push the fragment back into position. This inversion of the traditional cutting/elevating approach maintains ease of access while eliminating tissue damage risks.
3Ease of operation
If the obturator tip is extended beyond the cannula, then manipulation of bone fragment is improved, but the risk of protruding through articular cartilage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extended blunt tip is specifically designed to provide cushioning during bone fragment manipulation. The bluntness of the tip, combined with its extended length, allows effective elevation of the depressed fragment while the cushioning effect prevents penetration through the overlying articular cartilage.
Solution Approach 2:
The obturator exhibits local quality variation: the tip is blunt and extended for safe manipulation, while the shaft can be removed to allow repair material injection. This localized differentiation of properties allows improved bone fragment manipulation without proportionally increasing cartilage penetration risk.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical method includes accessing a depressed bone fragment of a depression fracture with a surgical assembly. The surgical assembly includes a cannula and an obturator receivable through the cannula. The method further includes positioning the depressed bone fragment toward its original anatomical position using a blunt tip of the obturator. The method also includes injecting a liquid repair material through the cannula to the depression fracture to repair the depression fracture.