초록 ▼

A method of clavicle fracture fixation includes using a K-wire to create a pilot hole extending longitudinally through the medullary canal of the lateral and medial fragments of the fractured clavicle while the fragments are reduced, enlarging a medial portion of the pilot hole in the lateral fragme

A method of clavicle fracture fixation includes using a K-wire to create a pilot hole extending longitudinally through the medullary canal of the lateral and medial fragments of the fractured clavicle while the fragments are reduced, enlarging a medial portion of the pilot hole in the lateral fragment and a lateral portion of the pilot hole in the medial fragment, wherein such enlarged portions are together sized for receiving the clavicle nail, attaching the lateral end of the clavicle nail to the K-wire, manipulating the K-wire such that substantially the entire length of the clavicle nail is positioned inside of the lateral fragment, aligning the lateral and medial fragments longitudinally, and manipulating the K-wire such that approximately half of the length of the clavicle nail is positioned within the medial fragment and approximately half of the nail is positioned within the lateral fragment.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of treating a fracture of a clavicle bone having lateral and medial fragments, comprising: a) providing a first instrument having a first end and a second end; b) drilling with the first instrument in a first longitudinal direction from the medial side of the fractur

What is claimed is: 1. A method of treating a fracture of a clavicle bone having lateral and medial fragments, comprising: a) providing a first instrument having a first end and a second end; b) drilling with the first instrument in a first longitudinal direction from the medial side of the fracture and into a medullary canal of the lateral fragment such that the first instrument creates a pilot hole in the lateral fragment and the first end of the first instrument penetrates the skin surface; c) then retracting the first end of the first instrument from the lateral fragment in the first longitudinal direction until the second end is flush with the fracture or retracted within the lateral fragment; d) then, with the second end of the first instrument in the lateral fragment, orienting the lateral and medial fragments in an alignment of a reduced fracture; e) then advancing the second end of the first instrument in a second longitudinal direction opposite the first direction from the lateral fragment and into a medullary canal of the medial fragment to create a pilot hole in the medial fragment; f) enlarging a medial portion of the pilot hole in the lateral fragment and enlarging a lateral portion of the pilot hole in the medial fragment to define lateral and medial canals; g) first providing a clavicle nail; h) inserting substantially an entire length of the clavicle nail inside of the lateral canal of the lateral fragment; i) aligning the lateral and medial fragments; and j) second providing portions of the nail within each of the lateral and medial fragments. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein: said first instrument is a K-wire. 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein: said first instrument is a K-wire, and said enlarging the medial portion of the pilot hole in the lateral fragment includes advancing a cannulated drill over the first instrument. 4. A method according to claim 3, wherein: said enlarging the lateral medial portion of the pilot hole in the medial fragment includes providing a second instrument within the pilot hole of the medial fragment and advancing a cannulated drill over the second instrument. 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein: said inserting includes attaching a lateral end of the clavicle nail to an instrument extending through the lateral end of the lateral fragment and protruding through the skin of the patient and pulling on the instrument to draw the clavicle nail into the lateral canal of the lateral fragment. 6. A method according to claim 5, wherein: said second providing includes manipulating the instrument such that portions of the nail are positioned within each of the lateral and medial fragments. 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein: said second providing provides approximately half of the length of the clavicle nail within the medial fragment. 8. A method according to claim 1, wherein: said second providing provides approximately half of the length of the clavicle nail within the medial fragment. 9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: securing the nail to the lateral and medial fragments, wherein said securing includes, first drilling holes in the bone in alignment with screw holes on the medial side of the fracture, securing the nail to the clavicle bone on the medial side of the fracture, reducing the fracture, second drilling holes in the clavicle bone in alignment with screw holes on the lateral side of the fracture, and securing the nail to the clavicle bone on the lateral side of the fracture. 10. A method according to claim 9, wherein: said securing further includes, prior to said first drilling holes, coupling a jig to the nail between the lateral and medial fragments. 11. A method according to claim 10, wherein: the jig includes a guide plate, and the jig is coupled to the nail in a rotationally fixed manner such that the guide plate is parallel to the nail. 12. A method according to claim 10, wherein: said securing further includes, prior to said second drilling holes, coupling the jig to the nail on the medial side of the fracture. 13. A method of treating a fracture of a bone having first and second elongate fragments, comprising: a) providing a first instrument having a first end and a second end; b) drilling with the first instrument from the fracture and into a medullary canal of the first fragment such that the first instrument creates a pilot hole in the first fragment and the first end of the first instrument penetrates a skin surface at a longitudinal end of the first fragment; c) then retracting the first end of the instrument from the first fragment in a first direction until the second end of the instrument is flush with the fracture or retracted within the first fragment; d) then orienting the first and second fragments in an alignment of a reduced fracture; e) then advancing the second end of the first instrument in a second direction opposite the first direction and into the second fragment to create a pilot hole in a medullary canal of the second fragment; f) enlarging a portion of the pilot hole in each of the first and second fragments to define first and second canals to accommodate an orthopedic nail having a diameter greater than the diameter of the pilot hole; g) first providing an orthopedic nail; h) inserting substantially an entire length of the nail inside of the first canal of the first fragment; i) aligning the first and second fragments; and j) second providing portions of the nail within each of the first and second fragments. 14. A method according to claim 13, wherein: said first instrument is a K-wire. 15. A method according to claim 13, wherein: said pilot hole is created with a first instrument, and said enlarging the fracture side portion of the pilot hole in the first fragment includes advancing a cannulated drill over the first instrument. 16. A method according to claim 15, wherein: said enlarging the fracture side portion of the pilot hole in the second fragment includes providing a second instrument within the pilot hole of the second fragment and advancing a cannulated drill over the second instrument. 17. A method of implanting a nail within first and second elongate fragments of a bone fracture, the nail including a longitudinal axis, a plurality of threaded screw holes transverse to the longitudinal axis, and an end, said method comprising: a) providing a first instrument having a first end and a second end; b) drilling with the first instrument from the fracture and into the first fragment in a first direction such that the first end of the first instrument extends through a medullary canal of the first instrument extends through the medullary canal of the first fragment and penetrates a skin surface to create a pilot hole in the first fragment; c) then retracting the first instrument in the first direction until the second end of the instrument is flush with the fracture or retracted within the first fragment; d) then orienting the first and second fragments in an alignment of a reduced fracture; e) then advancing the second end of the first instrument in a second direction opposite the first direction into a medullary canal of the second fragment to create a pilot hole in the second fragment; f) coupling the end of the nail to the second end of the first instrument and pulling on the first instrument in the first direction from the portion of the first instrument that has penetrated the skin surface to draw the nail into the first fragment; and g) advancing screws into the threaded screw holes of the nail to secure the nail relative to the bone. 18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising: enlarging portions of the pilot hole in each of the first and second fragments prior to drawing the nail into the first fragment with the first instrument. 19. A method according to claim 17, further comprising: using the first instrument to advance the nail into the second fragment. 20. A method according to claim 17, wherein: the end of the nail includes a threaded axial bore, the second end of the first instrument is threaded, and said coupling includes threading the second end of the first instrument into engagement with the end of the nail.