Small Joint Fixation

Abstract

A method of joining adjacent bone includes providing a medical device having a first implant portion, a second implant portion attached to the first implant portion, and a driver assembly having an instrument adapted to form an opening in bone. The driver assembly is integrally connected to and removably attached to the second implant portion at a connection, distal from the first implant portion. The driver assembly further has a wire driver extending therefrom, distal from the first implant portion. The method further includes inserting the wire driver into a wire driver tool; placing the first implant portion against a first bone structure; inserting the first implant portion into the first bone structure; removing the second implant portion from the driver assembly; using the driver assembly to form an opening in a second bone structure, adjacent to the first bone structure; and inserting the second implant portion into the opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of joining adjacent bone structures comprising, in order, the steps of:
 (a) providing an assembly comprising a fixation device integrally connected to but separable from a driver assembly at a connection, the fixation device having a first implant portion at a proximal end and a second implant portion at a distal end and the second implant portion being connected to the driver assembly at the connection, the driver assembly including a drill adapted to form an opening in bone and a through-opening sized to allow the second implant portion to be inserted thereinto after the driver assembly is separated from the second implant portion;   (b) inserting the first implant portion into a first bone segment;   (c) separating the driver assembly from the second implant portion at the connection;   (d) using the drill to drill a second bone passage into a second bone segment; and   (e) inserting the second implant portion into the second bone passage.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second implant portion comprises a plurality of barbs, and wherein step (e) comprises forcing the barbs into the second bone passage. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to step (b), drilling a first bone passage into the first bone segment and wherein step (b) comprises inserting the first implant portion into the first bone passage. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of, prior to step (e), widening the second bone passage. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein step (b) is performed in the absence of pre-drilling the first bone segment. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first bone segment and the second bone segment are different bones, and wherein step (e) results in joining the different bones together. 
     
     
         7 . A method of joining adjacent bone structures comprising, in order, the steps of:
 (a) providing an assembly comprising a fixation device integrally connected to but separable from a driver assembly at a connection, the fixation device having a first implant portion at a proximal end and a second implant portion at a distal end and the second implant portion being connected to the driver assembly at the connection, the driver assembly including a drill adapted to form an opening in bone and a through-opening sized to allow the second implant portion to be inserted thereinto after the driver assembly is separated from the second implant portion;   (b) inserting the driver assembly into a drill handle;   (c) inserting the first implant portion into a first bone segment;   (d) separating the driver assembly from the second implant portion at the connection;   and   (e) inserting the second implant portion into the second bone passage.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising, between step (d) and step (e), the step of inserting the second implant portion into the through-opening and rotating the second implant portion using the driver assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising, between step (d) and step (e), forming an opening in the second bone segment. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising the step of, after forming the opening, using the driver assembly to widen the second bone passage. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the driver assembly comprises a broach, and the step of using the driver assembly to widen the through-opening comprises using the broach. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein step (c) is performed in the absence of pre-drilling the first bone segment. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising, prior to step (c), drilling a first bone passage into the first bone segment and wherein step (c) comprises inserting the first implant portion into the first bone passage. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the first implant portion is threaded and wherein step (c) comprises rotating the driver assembly and the drill, thereby inserting the first implant portion into the first bone segment. 
     
     
         15 . A method of joining adjacent bone structures comprising, in order, the steps of:
 (a) providing an assembly comprising a fixation device integrally connected to but separable from a driver assembly at a connection, the fixation device having a first implant portion at a proximal end and a second implant portion at a distal end and the second implant portion being connected to the driver assembly at the connection, the driver assembly including a drill adapted to form an opening in bone;   (b) inserting the driver assembly into a drill handle;   (c) inserting the first implant portion into a first bone segment;   (d) separating the driver assembly from the second implant portion at the connection;   and   (e) inserting the second implant portion into the second bone passage.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the first bone segment and the second bone segment are different bones, and wherein step (e) results in joining the different bones together. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising, between step (d) and step (e), forming an opening in the second bone segment. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of, after forming the opening, using the driver assembly to widen the second bone passage. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein step (c) is performed without pre-drilling the first bone segment. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising, prior to step (c), drilling a first bone passage into the first bone segment and wherein step (c) comprises inserting the first implant portion into the first bone passage.