Abstract A fixation screw for securing a bone graft of a tendon section in place in a ligament tunnel is formed from a biocompatible plastic or bioabsorbable material. The tendon section is used to replace a ligament and has a tendon section attached at each end to bone grafts. The fixation screw is tightened between the bone graft and bone surrounding the ligament tunnel to secure the bone graft in place by forcing it against the bone surrounding the ligament tunnel. The material is soft compared to bone so that threads of the fixation screw do not cut into the bone graft or bone surrounding the ligament tunnel when the fixation screw is tightened. The fixation screw is formed to have integral instrumentation. A body is molded or fabricated as one piece from the material and has a threaded end, formed as an interference screw, and a relatively thicker handle portion connected to each other. The handle portion forms the integral instrumentation in that it is grasped to turn the fixation screw to tighten it. The threaded end is inserted between the bone graft and bone surrounding the ligament tunnel. The handle is turned to tighten the threaded end between the bone graft and surrounding bone. After the fixation screw has been tightened, the portion of the fixation screw which extends beyond the surface of the bone at which the ligament tunnel opens is trimmed off, leaving all surfaces flush.
A fixation screw for securing a bone graft in place in a hole in a bone by tightening between the bone graft and the bone surrounding the hole to force the bone graft against the bone surrounding the hole, comprising a body having a threaded end formed as an interference screw from material which is soft compared to bone so that threads of the threaded end do not cut into the bone graft and bone surrounding the hole when the fixation screw is tightened.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A fixation screw for securing in place in a ligament tunnel extending through a bone in a joint a bone graft of a tendon graft, the tendon graft being used to replace a ligament, the fixation screw comprising a body having a threaded end with threads, the threaded end formed as an interference screw wherein when the fixation screw is tightened its threaded end is tightened between the bone graft and the bone surrounding the bone graft to force the bone graft against the bone to secure the bone graft in place in the ligament tunnel, the fixation screw formed from a material which is soft compared to the bone graft so that the threads of the threaded end do not cut into the bone graft when the fixation screw is tightened.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The fixation screw of claim 1 or 2 further including integral instrumentation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The fixation screw of claim 3 wherein the integral instrumentation comprises the body having a handle portion connected to the threaded end, the body including the handle portion and threaded end fabricated as one piece.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The fixation screw of claim 3 wherein the integral instrumentation comprises the body having a handle portion connected to the threaded end, the body including the handle portion and the threaded end fabricated as one piece wherein a portion of the body which extends beyond a surface of the bone where the ligament tunnel opens can be trimmed off after the fixation screw is tightened.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fixation screw of claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein said material is a bioabsorbable or biocompatible material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fixation screw of claim 6 wherein said material is ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fixation screw of claim 6 wherein said material is ultra high molecular weight polyethylene or bioabsorbable material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.