Orthopedic fasteners, instruments and methods

Abstract

Examples of the invention relate to methods, implants, and instruments for compressing first and second bone portions or a bone portion and an implant together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of stabilizing a first bone portion relative to a second abutting bone portion, the method comprising:
 providing a bone fastener having an insertion axis; a body; a first leg connected to the body; and a second leg connected to the body;   inserting a first pin, having a first pin longitudinal axis, into the first bone portion;   inserting a second pin, having a second pin longitudinal axis, into the second bone portion;   engaging a compressor with the first and second pins;   moving the first and second pins toward one another with the compressor to move the first and second bone portions toward one another;   after moving the first and second bone portions toward one another, using a guide to guide the formation of a first hole from a surface of the first bone portion distally into the first bone portion, the first hole defining a first hole axis;   using the guide to guide the formation of a second hole from a surface of the second bone portion distally into the second bone portion, the second hole defining a a second hole axis, the first and second hole axes being positioned relative to one another in a predetermined relationship determined by the guide; and   inserting the bone fastener with the first leg in the first hole and the second leg in the second hole.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising using the guide to guide a cutter to forma slot extending from a portion of the first hole to a portion of the second hole to receive the body. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further wherein the first and second pins are inserted so that their axes are not parallel and are in a first relative angular orientation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising guiding the insertion of the first and second pins with the guide. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising engaging a removable angle guide with a slot in the guide; guiding at least one of the first and second pins with the angle guide to orient the pin axes so that they are not parallel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising removing the angle guide from the guide after it is used to guide a pin and before moving the first and second pins toward one another with the compressor. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein moving the first and second pins toward one another with the compressor is operative to elastically deform at least one of the first and second pins. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising translating at least one of the first and second pins within a slot in the guide when the first and second pins are moved toward one another. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein at least one of the first and second pins begins to deform after the first and second bone portions are in contact at a first contact point and continues to deform until the first and second bone portions are in contact at a second contact point. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising before engaging a compressor with the first and second pins, repositioning the bones to change the relative angle between the pin axes. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising before engaging a compressor with the first and second pins, repositioning the bones so that the pin axes are parallel. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein moving the first and second pins toward one another with the compressor to move the first and second bone portions toward one another comprises positioning the first and second bone portions so that they contact at a first contact point in a first state, moving the first and second bone portions toward one another until they contact at a second contact point in a second state, wherein the angular position between the first and second bone portions in the first state is different than the angular position between the first and second bone portions in the second state, the compressor being operative to elastically deform at least one of the first and second pins while moving the first and second portions between the first and second states, the at least one elastically deformed pin exerting an elastic compressive force on the first and second bone portions. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the at least one elastically deformed pin induces oppositely directed relative rotational moments on the first and second bone portions. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein in the first state, the first and second bone portions are in contact at the first contact point and have a gap between them opposite the first contact point and wherein in the first state the gap is reduced. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the gap is reduced due to rotation of one bone portion relative to the other bone portion. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising viewing a radiographic image of the first and second pins within the first and second bone portions as an approximation of the position the bone fastener will assume in the first and second bone portions. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising after viewing a radiographic image of the first and second pins within the first and second bone portions as an approximation of the position the bone fastener will assume in the first and second bone portions, repositioning at least one of the pins to a more desirable position. 
     
     
         18 . A method of stabilizing a first bone portion relative to a second abutting bone portion, the method comprising:
 providing a bone fastener having an insertion axis; a body; a first leg connected to the body; and a second leg connected to the body;   positioning the first and second bone portions in an approximate final reduced position.   positioning a guide on the approximately reduced first and second bone portions;   guiding a first pin into the first bone portion with the guide,   guiding a second pin into the second bone portion with the guide,   engaging a compressor with the first and second pins;   moving the first and second pins toward one another with the compressor to move the first and second bone portions toward one another, the compressor being operative to elastically deform at least one of the first and second pins while moving the first and second bone portions, the at least one elastically deformed pin exerting an elastic compressive force on the first and second bone portions;   after moving the first and second bone portions toward one another, using the guide to guide the formation of a first hole from a surface of the first bone portion distally into the first bone portion, the first hole defining a first hole axis;   a using the guide to guide the formation of a second hole from a surface of the second bone portion distally into the second bone portion, the second hole defining a second hole axis, the first and second hole axes being positioned relative to one another in a predetermined relationship determined by the guide; and   inserting the bone fastener with the first leg in the first hole and the second leg in the second hole.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising translating at least one of the first and second pins within a slot in the guide when the first and second pins are moved toward one another. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising using the guide to guide a cutter to form a slot extending from a portion of the first hole to a portion of the second hole, wherein inserting the bone fastener comprises inserting the body into the slot extending from the portion of the first hole to the portion of the second hole.