Method and Apparatus for Minimally Invasive Subcutaneous Treatment of Long Bone Fractures

Abstract

The instant invention is a novel method and construct for temporary or definitive minimally invasive treatment of broken long bones such as a femur or humerus. The method includes the steps of tunneling an elongated rod subcutaneously in the subcutaneous fat layer parallel to the fractured long bone; and attaching the ends of the elongated rod to the fractured long bone. The elongated rod remains disposed in the subcutaneous fat layer and away from, but parallel to the long bone once attached to the long bone.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A surgical method for minimally invasive treatment of long bone fractures comprising the steps of:
 tunneling an elongated rod subcutaneously in the subcutaneous fat layer parallel to the fractured long bone; and   attaching the ends of the elongated rod to the fractured long bone using attachment means;   wherein said elongated rod and said attachment means remain disposed in the subcutaneous fat layer and away from, but parallel to the long bone once attached to the long bone.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , wherein said tunneling step includes creating one or more incisions in the skin through which said elongated rod can be inserted. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical method of  claim 2 , wherein said long bone is a femur and said one or more incisions in the skin are created on the lateral anterior part of the thigh. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of attaching the ends of said elongated rod to said fractured long bone includes connecting said attachment means to attachment clamps, which clamps are attached to said elongated rod, and inserting said attachment means into said bone. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical method of  claim 4 , wherein said attachment clamps include means to clamp said attachment means and said elongated rod to one another in a generally perpendicular relationship. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical method of  claim 5 , wherein said attachment clamps include a body having two passageways therethrough, said passageways being generally perpendicular to one another, said passageways allowing for passage of said attachment means and said elongated rod therethrough. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical method of  claim 6 , wherein said attachment clamps further include two set screw passageways therein to accommodate two set screws which lock said elongated rod and said attachment means firmly into said attachment clamp. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical method of  claim 7 , wherein said step of attaching the ends of said elongated rod to said fractured long bone further includes the step of inserting a threaded rod into a first end of said long bone said threaded rod being used to hold said first end steady before the step of inserting attachment screws thereinto and to said attachment clamps. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical method of  claim 8 , wherein said step of attaching the ends of said elongated rod to said fractured long bone further includes the steps of 1) inserting an end of said elongated rod through a first passageway in one or more of said attachment clamps; 2) inserting said attachment means through a second passageways in said attachment claps, and into the proximal end of said long bone; 3) fixing said elongated rod and said attachment means into said attachment clamps using set screws. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical method of  claim 9 , wherein said step of attaching the ends of said elongated rod to said fractured long bone further includes the step of distracting and aligning said fractured long bone. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical method of  claim 10 , wherein said step of distracting and aligning said fractured long bone includes inserting a threaded rod into the distal end of said long bone and manually distracting and aligning said fractured long bone. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical method of  claim 10 , wherein said step of distracting and aligning said fractured long bone includes inserting an attachment means and attachment clamp to the distal end of said elongated rod and into the distal end of said long bone and using the attachment means and attachment clamp to manually distract and align said fractured long bone. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical method of  claim 9 , wherein said step of attaching the ends of said elongated rod to said fractured long bone further includes the step removing the portion of said attachment means which extends away from said long bone beyond said attachment clamp to prevent said attachment means from extending beyond the subcutaneous fat layer. 
     
     
         14 . A surgical device for minimally invasive fixation of long bone fractures, said device being designed to be placed entirely subcutaneously including:
 an elongated rod, said rod being of sufficient length to extend substantially between the proximal and distal ends of said fractured long bone and being designed to be placed within the subcutaneous fat layer;   a plurality of attachment means designed to attach said elongate rod to said proximal and distal ends of said fractured long bone;   a plurality of attachment clamps, each designed to connect said attachment means to said elongated rod in a generally perpendicular fashion.   
     
     
         15 . The surgical device of  claim 14 , wherein said attachment clamps include a body having two passageways therethrough, said passageways being generally perpendicular to one another, said passageways allowing for passage of said attachment means and said elongated rod therethrough. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical device of  claim 15 , wherein said attachment clamps further include two set screw passageways therein to accommodate two set screws which lock said elongated rod and said attachment means firmly into said attachment clamp. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical device of  claim 14 , wherein said attachment means is a screw, threaded pin or threaded rod. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical device of  claim 14 , wherein said attachment means is a Schanz pin. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical device of  claim 14 , wherein said attachment means has a shaft portion and said shaft portion is threaded only on the portion thereof that is inserted into said long bone. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical device of  claim 14 , wherein said attachment means does not extend outward from said long bone beyond said attachment clamp.