Instruments and techniques can be used to release a first metatarsal for realignment. In some implementations, a techniques involves surgically accessing a sesamoidal ligament in a foot of a patient and advancing a guiding projection of a cutting instrument under the sesamoidal ligament. This can capture the sesamoidal ligament between the guiding projection of the cutting instrument and a cutting surface of the cutting instrument that is recessed relative to a distal end of the guiding projection. The techniques further involves cutting the sesamoidal ligament with the cutting surface of the cutting instrument.

There is a process for correcting a bone injury, an implant for correcting the bone injury and a kit for applying the implant for correcting the bone injury. The process can be made substantially uniform with the application of a standardized kit. In at least one application the process is for correcting a bunion on a patient. The process can include applying a first drill guide to a bone, and then a second drill guide. Once the drill guides have been applied and wires have been inserted into a bone, an implant can then be applied to correct a bone injury and to allow the bone injury to heal.

Osteotomy cutting systems and surgical methods are provided herein. One surgical method includes coupling, to a cuneiform of a subject, a surgical apparatus for use in facilitating correction of a bunion and coupling the surgical apparatus to another bone of the subject. Another surgical method includes coupling a surgical apparatus to a cuneiform and metatarsal of a subject, coupling a cutting block for alignment at a joint between the cuneiform and the metatarsal, and performing a surgical procedure utilizing the surgical apparatus and the cutting block to correct a bunion. A further surgical method includes providing a surgical apparatus for use in facilitating correction of a bunion in a subject in which the surgical apparatus is configured to couple to a cuneiform and a metatarsal of the subject and performing a surgical procedure utilizing the surgical apparatus while the surgical apparatus is coupled to the cuneiform and the metatarsal.

An osteotomy surgical apparatus according to the present invention includes a bone cutting blade used for cutting bone tissue and a guard disposed so as to overlap the bone cutting blade in a side view of the bone cutting blade. A distal end of the guard is disposed at a position retracted rearward relative to a blade edge of the bone cutting blade.

A system includes a first spacer sized and configured to be received within a resected bone space of a first bone and a second spacer sized and configured to be coupled to a second bone. The first spacer and the second spacer each include a body extending between a bone contacting surface and a coupling surface. At least one shim is positioned between the first and second spacers. The shim includes a body extending between a first coupling surface and a second coupling surface. The first spacer, the second spacer, and the at least one shim position the first and second bones in a predetermined alignment. An adjustable guide including a guide adapter and a guide body is configured to couple to the first spacer and is adjustable on a first axis.

A technique for correcting a bone deformity, such as a bunion, may be performed using an instrument that defines a spacer body connected to a fulcrum. The spacer body portion of the instrument can be inserted into a joint space between opposed bone ends. The fulcrum body can be inserted between adjacent metatarsals. An angle set between the spacer body and fulcrum body can help properly position both features within different joint spaces for ensuring that subsequent steps of the surgical procedure are properly performed and instrumentation is appropriately aligned.

Methods for temporarily fixing an orientation of a bone or bones. Methods of correcting a bunion deformity. Bone positioning devices. Methods of using a bone positioning device. Bone preparation guides. Methods of using a bone preparation guide.

The present disclosure relates to an alignment system. The alignment system includes a clamp portion including a curved member configured to contact a medial portion of a first metatarsal of a patient, and a retention element configured to releasably couple with a second metatarsal of the patient. The alignment system also includes an alignment portion releasably coupled with the clamp portion and including an alignment bar and an extension coupled with the alignment bar and configured to releasably couple with a guide arm. The retention element includes a shaft and a pair of protrusions extending from a distal-most point of the shaft, with the pair of protrusions extend substantially parallel to one another. Also disclosed is a method of coupling the alignment system to the anatomy of a patient, specifically to two bones in the foot of the patient.

A surgical guide includes a metal guide and a plastic reference formed by additive manufacturing. The metal guide is configured to engage a bone surface of a first body area. The metal guide includes a main plate and an arm. The main plate has an inner surface customized and shaped to the bone surface. The main plate defines mounting guides for securing the main plate to the bone surface and defines a machining guide for drilling or cutting through the bone surface. The arm is formed to the main plate at a proximal end and extends to a distal end. The plastic reference has a reference surface customized and shaped to a surface of a second body area that is physically separated from the first body area.

Methods and devices for performing an osteotomy produce a bone cut producing a multi-planar change in the alignment of a bone portion by rotating it relative to another bone portion.