Briefly, the invention relates to a surgical tool and method for forming a pilot bore by inserting a guide wire into bone. The surgical tool is constructed and arranged for use in conjunction with X-ray or ultrasound machines. More particularly, the device includes a cannulated hand grip and driving tool used for the rotation of a bone or pedicle screw into bone. The rear portion of the hand grip includes a slide assembly that is suited to grip a guide wire. The slide assembly includes a user adjustable stop to control the sliding movement of the guide wire. The rear surface of the slide is constructed to be impacted with a hammer or similar device, whereby the stop prevents the guide wire from penetrating the bone further than desired. Should it be desired that the wire be retracted, a jack member is included to allow the wire to be precisely retracted. The hand grip is securable to various surgical driving tools for the purpose of providing the ability to cooperate with various brands of pedicle screws and other surgical implants for spinal procedures.

A glenoid positioning device (100), in particular for a Kirschner wire, comprising: a hub (101) with a reference through-hole (110) and comprising three housings (102a, 102b, 102c) arranged radially; three slide elements (103a, 103b, 103c) slidably housed within the three housings (102a, 102b, 102c), respectively, and configured to interact with a glenoid cavity; wherein the three slide elements (103a, 103b, 103c) are configured to be radially extended or retracted to identify a circular area (2) of a glenoid cavity.

A pedicle fixation system (10) may include a first fastener (12) and a second fastener (14). The first fastener (12) may include a first shank (40) extending along a first fastener axis (41) and a channel (52) extending along a skew axis (51). The skew axis (51) may be transverse to the first fastener axis (41) and the channel (52) may have a channel diameter perpendicular to the skew axis (51). The second fastener (14) may extend through the channel (52) and include a second shank (60) extending along a second fastener axis (63). At least a distal part of the second shank (60) may have a second fastener diameter perpendicular to the second fastener axis (63). The second fastener diameter may be smaller than the channel diameter.

A method for forming and abrading an implant void in a sacroiliac joint (“SI Joint”) without the use of a rotary cutting instrument. The method incorporates a multimodal abrading device having abrading surfaces on opposing sides and an open tip comprising a cutting edge. The method includes the step of using the abrading head to cut bone tissue from the SI Joint at an insertion point while simultaneously using the abrading surfaces to decorticate the cortical bone at the insertion point.

A spinal implant for limiting flexion of the spine includes a tether structure for encircling adjacent spinal processes. Usually, a pair of compliance members will be provided as part of the tether structure for elastically limiting flexion while permitting an extension. A cross-member is provided between the compliance member or other portions of the tether structure to stabilize the tether structure and prevent misalignment after implantation.

A wrist arthrodesis plate (20) consisting of a distal region (21) and of a proximal region (22) which adjoins the distal region (21) in the direction of a longitudinal axis (A). The plate (20) is of such a shape and size that the distal region (21) of the plate can be fastened to the carpus (1) and a proximal region (22) of the plate can be fastened to the radius (3) by fastening devices, such as screws, which can be inserted into plate holes. A distal end region (29), which comprises a farthest distal location (23) of the plate (20), is of a shape and size that the distal end region (29) can be placed with the farthest distal location (23) exactly, and only, on a carpal bone from the group comprising trapezium (11), trapezoid (10), capitate (9) and hamate (8), without covering any part of the laterally adjacent bones.

Methods and apparatus for immobilizing a synovial joint, such as a sacroiliac (SI) joint are disclosed. In one form, a multipiece fixation device, such as a dowel, includes multiple expandable fasteners that are configured to fix adjacent bones of a synovial joint with respect to one another. The expandable fasteners include expansion portions that are expanded radially via insertion of another expandable fastener or an expansion device to fix the expandable fasteners to the bone. The fixation device may be configured to provide for compression or distraction of the bones of the synovial joint while at the same time stabilizing the joint.

In some embodiments, a method comprises disposing a portion of a flexible fastening band into contact with a first bone portion and into contact with a second bone portion. The portion of the flexible fastening band having a substantially uniform shape configured to substantially compliment a shape of the first bone portion and a shape of the second bone portion. The method further includes inserting the portion of the flexible fastening band into a fastener and advancing the portion of the flexible fastening band through the fastener until the first bone portion and the and the second bone portion are stabilized.

This disclosure includes apparatus and methods to attach an orthopedic device to a bone. The method can comprise locating a baseplate on a glenoid of a patient, the base plate including at least a first fastener bore, creating a first post hole in the glenoid for locating a first fixation post, the first fixation post including a quasi-spherical head and a porous metal sleeve, and driving the first fixation post through the first fastener bore and into the first post hole. The porous metal sleeve can engage the first post hole and the quasi-spherical head can contact at least the first wall of the first fastener bore to removeably lock the quasi-spherical head to the baseplate. Driving the first fixation post can create an initial compression between the baseplate and the glenoid. The porous metal sleeve can receive bone ingrowth to maintain the initial compression.

Arcuate fixation members with varying configurations and/or features are provided, along with additional components for use therewith in provided intervertebral implants. The arcuate fixation members may be of different lengths, cross sectional geometries, and/or cross sectional areas. Applications of intervertebral implants utilizing arcuate fixation members are particularly suitable when a linear line-of-approach for delivering fixation members is undesirable.