BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field

The present disclosure relates generally to methods and apparatus for allowing for improvements in the repair of Periprosthetic fractures. In some embodiments, these improvements the inclusion of features within the implanted parenthesis allowing for use of an apparatus for effective and efficient alignment and installation of one or more fracture stabilization components and related components.

2. Related Art

The current state of fixation of periprosthetic fracture revolves around devices that are designed to avoid originally placed femoral or tibial components. With a multitude of different fracture patterns that could clinically exist, current solutions for the variability of fracture patterns revolve around the use of either an external bone plate or an internal medullary rod/nail.

The foregoing describes approaches for conventional periprosthetic fracture management. Such approaches often result in sub-optimal prognosis as compared with fracture management in the absence of a conventional prosthesis. Additional impacts to the patient recovery time result from significantly more invasive procedures being required for the application of such conventional fracture management devices.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the current invention provide for pre-engineered fracture fixation contingent solutions into femoral or tibial components, resulting in a distinct clinical advantage in the planning and execution for periprosthetic fracture fixation. Additional embodiments include a pre-engineered solution to intimately associate with the previously placed total hip arthroplasty or total knee arthroplasty and further in some embodiments utilize approaches for allowing targeting of required fasteners, screws and the like, using a mechanically associated relationship to the existing prosthetic, or other components.

Specific embodiments of this invention are related to the design of prosthetics for artificial hip and knee replacement, the repair of Periprosthetic fractures, and associated methods and apparatus for use in the application of fracture stabilization components. Additional embodiments provide for a variety of fracture fixation options should a fracture occur after total hip arthroplasty or total knee arthroplasty.

To support the application of such fixation options in specific embodiments provide for apparatus and methods to include the use of alignment devices and other components to allow methods for ease of repair of Periprosthetic fractures utilizing the pre-engineered solutions. Such targeting devices are required in specific circumstances as the prosthetics may prevent x-ray imaging and consequently free hand alignment. Specific embodiments of the aforementioned alignment device/outrigger may be composed of carbon fiber or other materials transparent to imaging technology utilizing radio lucent materials.

In one embodiment, a method for repairing a periprosthetic fracture comprises mounting an aligning device in mechanical registration with an in situ prosthetic component and locking a fracture stabilization component, and aiming arm, the aligning device and the in situ prosthetic component in mechanical alignment, utilizing the aiming arm to provide alignment of one or more mechanical cannula with one or more prosthetic component interfaces and securing one or more bone fracture segments associated with the periprosthetic fracture with said fracture stabilization component using screws, wherein the fracture stabilization component and the prosthetic component are further mechanically secured.

In another embodiment, a periprosthetic fracture device comprises mounting an aligning device in mechanical registration with an in situ prosthetic component and locking a fracture stabilization component, and aiming arm, the aligning device and the in situ prosthetic component in mechanical alignment, utilizing the aiming arm to provide alignment of one or more mechanical cannula with one or more prosthetic component interfaces and securing one or more bone fracture segments associated with the periprosthetic fracture with said fracture stabilization component using screws, wherein the fracture stabilization component and the prosthetic component are further mechanically secured.

In another embodiment, the prosthetic component further comprises a threaded coupling point for receiving the aligning device.

In another embodiment, the prosthetic component further comprises a guide wire.

In another embodiment, the aligning device and the aiming arm are a single component.

In another embodiment, the prosthetic component is a modified femoral component, and wherein said femoral component interfaces with a periprosthetic distal femoral polyaxial locking plate.

In another embodiment, the prosthetic component is a modified tibial tray component.

The method of claim1, wherein the component interface is notched or keyed for proper rotational alignment.

In another embodiment, the mechanical registration is a notched mechanical interface between a femoral nail and the prosthetic component.

In another embodiment, the aligning device and the aiming arm are mechanically assembled components.

In another embodiment, the fracture stabilization component comprises one of the following: a femoral nail, tibial nail, femoral plate, or tibial nail.

