Trochanteric Fixation Plate for Osteoporotic Bone Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical techniques for fixing the greater trochanter of the femur, particularly in osteoporotic bone, fail to provide adequate stabilization due to the soft nature of cancellous bone and the forces exerted by abductor musculature, leading to displacement and soft tissue irritation, and existing implants often cause pain and fatigue fractures.
Innovation Solution
A surgical implant device with a flat plate and bulbous portion that follows the curvature of the greater trochanter, featuring pre-drilled holes for screw fixation, cannulated screws, and cables, which are positioned to minimize soft tissue irritation and provide stable fixation against muscle pull, suitable for osteoporotic bone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If steel wires are used for trochanteric fixation, then the fixation method is simple to implement, but the wires undergo fatigue fracture and fixation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation system is divided into multiple functional components: a contoured plate for distribution, multiple screws for anchorage, and a cable for circumferential fixation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, preventing the fatigue fracture issue that plagued single-component wire systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines different materials and fixation mechanisms (plate, screws, cable) into a composite fixation system. The plate provides rigid support, screws provide anchorage in bone, and the cable provides circumferential stabilization, creating a synergistic system that overcomes the limitations of individual wire fixation.
2Reliability
If metal plate with spikes is applied to lateral aspect of trochanter, then fixation is provided, but soft tissue irritation and pain occur due to prominence
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is contoured to follow the natural curvature of the greater trochanter, creating a bulbous portion that conforms to the bone surface. This curvature allows the plate to sit flush against the bone without prominent edges that would irritate surrounding soft tissues, while still providing effective fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate features localized contours and shapes designed for specific functions: a bulbous portion for conforming to the trochanteric surface to prevent soft tissue irritation, and specific hole placements for optimal screw fixation. This local optimization resolves the conflict between fixation stability and soft tissue comfort.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If plate with proximal arms or loop is used, then lateral prominence is eliminated, but fixation in poor quality bone is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the advantages of contoured plates (reducing soft tissue irritation) with multiple fixation methods (screws and cable) to achieve both soft tissue compatibility and strong fixation in osteoporotic bone. The combination of fixation mechanisms compensates for poor bone quality while maintaining a low-profile design.
4Reliability
If traditional plate and screws are used in cancellous bone, then fixation is attempted, but the soft nature of cancellous bone makes stabilization difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation strategy changes parameters by using multiple small-diameter screws distributed across the trochanter rather than fewer large screws. This distributes the fixation load across multiple points, improving overall fixation strength in soft cancellous bone where single large screws would have poor purchase.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixation system segments the load-bearing function across multiple components: multiple screws provide distributed anchorage points, the contoured plate distributes forces across the trochanteric surface, and the cable provides additional circumferential stabilization. This segmentation allows effective fixation in soft bone by distributing stresses.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical implant device and method of using the same for fixation of the greater trochanter is provided. The surgical implant device comprises a plate defining a flat portion and a bulbous portion each defining pre-drilled holes configured to provide a drill guide for insertion of a plurality of screws and/or cables to hold the surgical implant device in the desired location. The device is configured to provide stable fixation of the greater trochanter while mitigating cable degradation and soft tissue damage/irritation present in legacy surgical techniques.