Limb sparing in mammals using patient-specific endoprostheses and cutting guides.

Abstract

A method for performing surgery on a target bone with guidance from an adjacent bone adjacent to the target bone, the method using a cutting guide including a mounting portion, a cut guiding portion and a linking portion extending therebetween, the method comprising: mounting the mounting portion to the adjacent bone and positioning the cut guiding portion adjacent to the target bone, wherein the mounting portion and the cut guiding portion are positioned in a predetermined spatial relationship relative respectively to the adjacent and target bones; and making a cut in the target bone using a saw, the saw being guided along a predetermined path by the cut guiding portion.

Claims

1. A method for performing surgery on a target bone with guidance from an adjacent bone adjacent to the target bone, the method using a cutting guide including a mounting portion, a cut guiding portion and a linking portion extending therebetween, the method comprising: mounting the mounting portion to the adjacent bone and positioning the cut guiding portion adjacent to the target bone, wherein the mounting portion and the cut guiding portion are positioned in a predetermined spatial relationship relative respectively to the adjacent and target bones; and making a cut in the target bone using a saw, the saw being guided along a predetermined path by the cut guiding portion; whereby the cutting guide is positioned relative to the target bone using a bone that differs from the target bone in which a cut is to be made.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the cutting guide is delimited by a cutting guide peripheral surface defining a bone facing portion which faces the target bone and the adjacent bone when the cutting guide is operatively mounted thereto, the bone facing portion being contoured to match a shape of the target and adjacent bones; and mounting the mounting portion and positioning the cut guiding portion includes abutting the cutting guide peripheral surface against the target and adjacent bones where the bone facing portion is contoured to match the shape of the target and adjacent bones so that the cutting guide is positioned at a predetermined location and a predetermined orientation relative to the target bone.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the cutting guide defines a K-wire aperture for inserting a K-wire therethrough, the method further comprising inserting the K-wire though the K-wire aperture and into the target bone to secure the cutting guide to the target bone.

4. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the target bone is a radius and the adjacent bone is an ulna defining a styloid process.

5. The method as defined in claim 4, wherein mounting the mounting portion including hooking the styloid process.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein making the cut excises a portion of the target bone, the method further comprising replacing the portion of the target bone with an endoprosthesis.

7. The method as defined in claim 6, further comprising: imaging a contralateral bone contralateral to the target bone and forming a model of a part of the contralateral bone corresponding to the portion of the target bone; and manufacturing the endoprosthesis, wherein the endoprosthesis includes a bone replica part thereof that is shaped like a mirror image of the model of the part of the contralateral bone.

8. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein the target bone is a radius, the adjacent bone is an ulna and metacarpals are present distally to the radius and ulna; manufacturing the endoprosthesis further includes providing a fixation shaft and a fixation plate extending from the bone replica opposed to each other; replacing the portion of the target bone with the endoprosthesis includes inserting the fixation shaft in a medula of a remaining part of the radius after excision and fastening the fixation plate to the metacarpals.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the cut guiding portion defines a slit extending therethrough for guiding the saw, making the cut including inserting a saw blade of the saw into the slit and cutting through the target bone with the saw blade inserted in the slit.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the cut guiding portion defines at least one drilling guide aperture extending therethrough, the method further comprising drilling in the bone with a drill having a drill bit extending through the drilling guide aperture.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising imaging the target bone and the adjacent bone; forming a model of the shape of the target bone and the adjacent bone; and manufacturing the cutting guide based on the model of the shape of the target bone and the adjacent bone so that the bone facing portion is contoured to conform to the shape of the target bone and the adjacent bone.

12. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein manufacturing the cutting guide is performed through 3D printing.

13. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the target bone is affected by a tumour.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] FIG. 1, in a flowchart, illustrates a limb sparing method in dogs in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0067] FIG. 2, in a perspective environmental view, illustrates a cutting guide usable in the method of FIG. 1, the cutting guide being shown mounted to a radius and an ulna of a dog;

[0068] FIG. 3, in a top elevation view, illustrates the cutting guide of FIG. 2;

[0069] FIG. 4, in a bottom elevation view, illustrates the cutting guide of FIG. 2;

[0070] FIG. 5, in a perspective view, illustrates an endoprosthesis usable in the method of FIG. 1;

[0071] FIG. 6, in a perspective environmental view, illustrates the endoprosthesis of FIG. 5;

[0072] FIG. 7, in a perspective environmental view with a partial cutaway, illustrates the endoprosthesis of FIG. 5;

[0073] FIG. 8, in an alternative perspective environmental view, illustrates the endoprosthesis of FIG. 5;

[0074] FIG. 9, in an other alternative perspective environmental view, illustrates the endoprosthesis of FIG. 5;

[0075] FIG. 10, in a series of photographs, illustrates some steps of the method of FIG. 1 performed on a cadaveric dog;

[0076] FIGS. 11 to 14, in perspective views, illustrate successive steps of a limb sparing method in dogs in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0077] The present invention relates to limb sparing methods and devices. With reference to FIG. 1, the present invention implements a method 100 in which part of an affected limb is amputated and replaced by an endoprosthesis. The method starts at step 105. Then, at step 110, images of the affected limb and of the contralateral limb are acquired. The images are acquired using an imaging modality that allows creation of a 3D model of both limbs adjacent the portion of the affected limb to amputate, such as computed tomography (CT) imaging, among others, as performed in step 115. More specifically, in step 115, an affected limb 3D model is created, and a contralateral limb 3D model is created. These 3D models are used as basis for manufacturing respectively an endoprosthesis (in part from the mirror image of the contralateral limb 3D model and in part from the affected limb 3D model) and a cutting guide (from the affected limb 3D model), at step 120. Finally, at step 125, a surgical procedure is performed in which the cutting guide is positioned on the affected limb, directly on the bone, part of the affected bone is removed using surgical instruments, such as a surgical saw, and the prosthesis is secured to the remaining portion of the bone. Finally, the method ends at step 130.

[0078] In the present document, the terminology distal and proximal refers to the location relative to an animal on which surgery is performed. Proximal elements are closer to a body of the animal, while proximal elements are closer to a tip of a limb on which surgery is performed. Also, the terminology substantially and about is used to denote variations in the thus qualified terms that have no significant effect on the principle of operation of the proposed devices, systems and methods. These variations may be minor variations in design or variations due to mechanical tolerances in manufacturing and use of these devices and systems. These variations are to be seen with the eye of the reader skilled in the art.

[0079] While any suitable cutting guide may be manufactured, the cutting guide 200 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 is well suited to guide removal of the distal portion 207 of the radius 202 (both shown in FIG. 2) in dogs and other similar animals. Such removal may be required for example because the distal portion 207 of the radius 202 is affected by a tumor.

[0080] Referring more specifically to FIG. 2, the distal part of the dog forelimbs includes two bones that are parallel to each other, the radius 202 and the ulna 204. As better seen in FIG. 6, for example, the ulna 204 is terminated by an ulnar distal tip known as the styloid process 206. The carpal bones 208 extend distally to the radius 202 and ulna 204, and the metacarpal bones 210 extend distally to the carpal bones 208. The forelimb bones are terminated distally by the phalanges 212.

[0081] Returning to FIG. 2, the cutting guide 200 includes a cut guiding portion 214, an opposed ulnar mounting portion 216 and a linking portion 218 therebetween, which are typically integrally formed together. Indeed, the radius 202 may be deformed by the tumor and as such its distal portion 207 is a poor choice for precise alignment of the cutting guide 200. Thus, a large portion of the cutting guide 200 is shaped for mounting to the ulna 204.

[0082] The cut guiding portion 214 is configured to abut against the radius adjacent the cut location where the radius 202 is to be cut during surgery. For example, the cut guiding portion 214 defines a slit 220 through which the blade of a saw (not shown in the drawings) can be inserted to cut through the radius 202. Thus, the slit 220 is configured, sized and positioned to be substantially adjacent the cut location when the cutting guide 200 is operatively mounted to the radius 202 and ulna 204. In some embodiments, the cut guiding portion 214 takes the form of a substantially plate-shaped element through which the slit 220 extends, but other configurations are within the scope of the invention. The slit 220 is typically generally perpendicular to the radius 202 when the cutting guide 200 is mounted to the radius 202 and ulna 204, but other orientations are within the scope of the invention.

[0083] The ulnar mounting portion 216 is substantially elongated and defines a substantially rectilinear main shaft 222 extending from the linking portion 218 and terminated, opposed to the cut guiding portion 214, by a hook 224. The hook 224 defines a hook recess 226 which opens generally towards the cut guiding portion 214. When the cutting guide is operatively mounted to the radius 202 and ulna 204, the main shaft 222 extends generally parallel to the ulna 204, and the ulnar distal tip (styloid process) 206 is received in the hook recess 226.

[0084] The linking portion 218 takes any suitable shape. For example, the linking portion 218 is substantially elongated and rectilinear and extends at an angle relative to the main shaft 222.

[0085] The cutting guide 200 is delimited by a cutting guide peripheral surface 228. The cutting guide peripheral surface 228 defines a bone facing portion 230, better seen in FIG. 4, which faces the radius 202 and ulna 204 when the cutting guide 200 is mounted thereto. The bone facing portion 230 has a shape, configuration and dimensions so that is conforms to the shape of the radius 202 and ulna 204. Thus, when the cutting guide 200 is mounted to the radius 202 and ulna 204, there is only one precise relative position between the cutting guide 200 and the radius 202 and ulna 204 that results in a precise fit therebetween in which the cutting guide 200 is in a predetermined spatial relationship relative to the radius 202 and ulna 204. This ensures that the cutting guide 200 will not move easily relative to the radius 202 when the latter is cut, and ensures also that the slit 220 is precisely positioned at the right location prior to cutting the radius 202.

[0086] FIGS. 5 to 9 illustrates a endoprosthesis 300 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The endoprosthesis 300 replaces a portion of the radius 202 that has been excised, for example using the cutting guide 200 of FIG. 2. With reference to FIG. 5 for example, the endoprosthesis 300 includes a fixation plate 302, a bone replica 304 extending from the fixation plate 302 and a fixation shaft 306 extending from the bone replica, in a generally parallel and spaced apart relationship relative to the fixation plate 302. In some embodiments, the endoprosthesis 300 is made of a single integrally extending piece of material, but a prosthesis made of many assembled components is also within the scope of the present invention.

[0087] The fixation plate 302 includes a plate proximal portion 308, a plate distal portion 310 and a plate intermediate portion 312 extending therebetween. The plate intermediate portion 312 supports the bone replica 304. The plate proximal and distal portions 308 and 310 are provided respectively proximally and distally relative to the plate intermediate portion 312 when the endoprosthesis 300 is operatively secured to the radius 202 and adjacent bones.

[0088] In a specific embodiment of the invention, the plate proximal portion 308 is substantially elongated and of substantially constant width, as better seen in FIG. 9. The plate proximal portion 308 is secured to the radius 202 in use. The plate intermediate portion 312 widens in a direction leading towards the plate distal portion 310. The plate distal portion 310 is substantially V-shaped and defines two arms 320, although plates having one or more than two arms 320 are within the scope of the invention. Each arm 320 is secured to a respective metacarpal bone 210 in use.

[0089] The bone replica 304 has a shape substantially similar to the shape the portion of the radius 202 that it replaces. This is achieved for example by having the bone replica 304 having the shape of a mirror image of the contralateral radius.

[0090] The fixation shaft 306 extends coaxially with the bone replica 304, at its proximal end, and is dimensioned to be inserted axially in the medulla 209 of the remaining portion of the radius 202, as seen in FIG. 7. The fixation shaft 306 typically extends in register with and spaced apart from the fixation plate 302.

[0091] The plate proximal and distal portions 308 and 310 defines respectively opposed proximal inner and outer surfaces 322 and 324 and distal inner and outer surfaces 326 and 328, as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. The proximal and distal inner surfaces 322 and 326 face respectively the radius 202 and the metacarpal bones 210 when the endoprosthesis 300 is fixed in the patient. To that effect, they are shaped to conform to the outer surface of these bones, using 3D models thereof constructed at step 115 of method 100. The plate proximal and distal portions 308 and 310 are mounted to the radius 202 and metacarpal bones 210 in any suitable manner. For example, mounting apertures 330 extend between the proximal inner and outer surfaces 322 and 324 and between the distal inner and outer surfaces 326 and 328. Although the endoprosthesis 300 includes 6 mounting apertures 330 in the plate proximal portion 308 and 6 mounting apertures 330 in each arm 320, any suitable number of mounting apertures 330 is usable. Fasteners, such as screws (seen in FIG. 10) are inserted through the mounting apertures 330 and in the radius 202 and metacarpal bones 210. In some embodiments, the fixation shaft 306 is provided with shaft apertures 332, seen in FIG. 5, each in register with one of the mounting apertures 330 so that the screws that are in register therewith can extend therethrough. Since fixation shaft 306 is usually shorter than the plate proximal portion 308, the number of shaft apertures 332 is typically smaller than the number of mounting apertures 330 in the plate proximal portion 308.

[0092] The fixation plate 302 can be chamfered at one or both ends to facilitate insertion between bones and soft tissues.

[0093] FIG. 10 includes photographs taken during performance of the method 100. Following a CT scan performed on a cadaveric thoracic limb from a dog euthanized for reasons unrelated to this study, a custom-made endoprosthesis 300 was created. Standard surgical technique utilized in dogs clinically afflicted with osteosarcoma of the distal radius was performed. Once a predetermined length of distal radius 202 was excised with the use of the cutting guide 200, the endoprosthesis 300 was positioned and fixated with 6 screws proximally (radius) and 12 screws distally (Metacarpals III and IV). Surgical technique took less than an hour and application/fixation of the endoprosthesis 300 was greatly facilitated by the use of a pre-contoured implant.

[0094] FIGS. 11 to 14 illustrate successive steps of a limb sparing method in dogs in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The method of FIGS. 11 to 14 differs from the previously described method 100 in at least three aspects. First, both the radius 202 and the ulna 204 are excised. Second and third the cutting guide 400 used in this method differs slightly from the cutting guide 200. The cutting guide 400 includes drilling guide apertures 402 and one or more K-wire aperture 404. Any number and combination of these three features can be implemented in combination with the features of the cutting guide 200.

[0095] More specifically, the cut guiding portion 406 of the cutting guide 400 is slightly larger than the cut guiding portion 214 of the cutting guide 200 and extends proximally to a greater extent that in the cutting guide 200. The cut guiding portion 406 defines at least one, for example two, drilling guide apertures 402 proximally to the slit 220. The position of the drilling guide apertures 402 corresponds to the position of a corresponding number of mounting apertures 330 of the endoprosthesis 300. The number of drilling guide apertures 402 may be smaller than the number of mounting apertures 330, equal thereto, or larger than the number of mounting apertures 330. This last possibility is useful, for example, in surgical procedures in which drilling apertures in bones for purposes other than mounting the endoprosthesis 300 is required. The drilling guide apertures 402 are usable to pre-drill apertures that will be in register with the mounting apertures 330 so that the endoprosthesis 300 can be mounted more precisely to the radius 202. The drilling guide apertures 402 may be used directly to guide drilling, or may be configured to receive an insert 408 that will guide drilling through a suitably sized pass-through aperture 409 extending therethrough. Indeed, in some embodiments the cutting guide 400 is made of a relatively soft material. In such embodiments, it may be useful, but not required, to use the insert 408 made of a harder material, such as a metal, inserted in the the drilling guide apertures 402 to guide drilling. Such inserts 408 may be for example externally threaded and threadedly engage an internally threaded drilling guide aperture 402, for example and non-limitingly using self-locking threads.

[0096] Also, the K-wire aperture 404 is formed in the cutting guide 400 and configured, positioned and sized to receive a K-wire 410 thereinto such that the K-wire 410 can be inserted in the radius 202 before the drilling and cutting steps. For example, the K-wire aperture 404 is adjacent the slit 220 and slightly proximal thereto.

[0097] In use, as seen in FIG. 11, the cutting guide 400 is fitted to the radius 202 as with the cutting guide 200. Then, the K-wire 410 may be inserted in the K-wire aperture 404 and into the radius 202 to immobilize the cutting guide 400. Then, a drill and a saw (not shown in the drawings) may be used to respectively drill bone apertures 250 (seen in FIG. 12) through the drilling guide apertures 402 or inserts 408 and to cut the distal part of the radius 202. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 to 14, the ulna 204 is also cut, but this is not necessarily the case in all embodiments. After cutting and drilling, the K-wire 410 is removed and the cutting guide 400 can be taken away to achieve the configuration shown in FIG. 12. Afterwards, the endoprosthesis 300 is positioned adjacent the radius 202 as detailed above and seen in FIG. 13. Fasteners (not shown in the drawings) can then be inserted through the mounting apertures 330 and into the bone apertures 250 corresponding in position to the drilling guide apertures 402. Additional fasteners are then inserted in other mounting apertures 330 if required. Finally, as seen in FIG. 14, the distal bones of the limb are secured at the distal end of the endoprosthesis 300.

[0098] Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.

REFERENCES

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