COMBINATION INTRAMEDULLARY FIXATION AND EXTERNAL BONE COMPRESSION APPARATUS

摘要

A combination intramedullary fixation and external bone compression apparatus for applying fixation and compression to a bone which has been fractured transversely to form two longitudinal fragments. Such fixation device includes an elongated intramedullary rod for extending substantially the full length of the intramedullary canal of the fractured bone. The intramedullary rod includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced through transverse screw-receiving slots. A compression device is provided which includes a plate for being disposed exteriorally of the bone and spanning the fracture. Such plate includes screw-receiving bores disposed on opposite sides of the fracture whereby an incision may be made in the injured limb adjacent the fracture and the rod inserted through such incision and into the intramedullary canal off one of the bone fragments. The rod may then be driven into the intramedullary canal to drive the leading end of the rod out of one end of the bone fragment sufficiently far to cause the trailing end of such rod to be totally received within such one fragment. Thereafter, the bone fragments may be set and the projecting end of the rod driven back into the intramedullary canal to drive the opposite end of the rod into the second bone fragment to thereby cause such rod to span the fracture and provide support against transverse shifting of the two bone fragments. Thereafter, the compression plate may be placed on the exterior of the bone spanning the fracture and the fracture put in compression. Holes may then be drilled in the bone wall on opposite sides of the fracture and in alignment with the screw-receiving bores in the compression plate and certain of the slots in the rod and screws inserted to maintain the fracture in compression.