Invention:
The invention is a design for a minimally invasive percutaneous guide for pin placement used in hip fracture fixation. This guide is placed on the leg but rigidly affixed to the bone to provide stable platform for pin placement. It enables independent control of position and rotation on both anterior/posterior and lateral fluoroscopy, allowing steady progress through the operation.
Background:
Hip fractures, common in the elderly, are typically treated with implant fixation which relies on the placement of a guide pin during the procedure. Guide pin placement can be achieved either with the use of a guide placed on the lateral femur or with a minimally invasive technique using fluoroscope for percutaneous placement of the pin. Precise percutaneous pin placement is difficult to attain because it requires simultaneous control of 4 degree of freedom, which is a difficult skill for junior residents. Repeated attempts at pin placement increase operative time and can lead to increased fracture risk.
Advantages:
- Placed on the leg but rigidly affixed to bone to provide stable platform for pin placement
- Independent control of pin position and angles on anterior/posterior and lateral fluoroscopy
- Helps a novice surgeon to attain results equal to those of an expert surgeon
Application:
- Treatment of proximal femur fractures
- Orthopedic trauma and reconstructive surgery
Status: issued U.S. patent #10,646,695
