CPC A61F 2/447 (2013.01) [A61B 17/1615 (2013.01); A61B 17/1659 (2013.01); A61B 17/1664 (2013.01); A61B 17/1671 (2013.01); A61B 17/68 (2013.01); A61B 17/7055 (2013.01); A61B 17/866 (2013.01); A61B 17/8685 (2013.01); A61F 2/4455 (2013.01); A61F 2/446 (2013.01); A61B 17/1637 (2013.01); A61B 17/1757 (2013.01); A61B 17/864 (2013.01); A61F 2/0077 (2013.01); A61F 2/28 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30062 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30156 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30179 (2013.01); A61F 2002/3023 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30235 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30405 (2013.01); A61F 2002/305 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30576 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30604 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30622 (2013.01); A61F 2/30767 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30777 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30785 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30787 (2013.01); A61F 2002/3082 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30841 (2013.01); A61F 2002/3085 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30995 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4238 (2013.01); A61F 2/4465 (2013.01); A61F 2002/448 (2013.01); A61F 2210/0004 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0025 (2013.01); A61F 2230/0023 (2013.01); A61F 2230/0058 (2013.01); A61F 2230/0069 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00017 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00023 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00029 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00131 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00179 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00329 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00796 (2013.01); A61F 2310/0097 (2013.01)] | 13 Claims |
1. A method of fusing a bone joint, the method comprising:
identifying the bone joint to be fused, the bone joint comprising a first bone segment, a second bone segment, and a joint region located between the first and second bone segments;
providing an elongated bone fixation/fusion implant having a longitudinal axis along a direction of elongation, and having a plurality of cross-sectional profiles transverse to the longitudinal axis, each of the plurality of cross-sectional profiles encompassing an entire cross-section of the implant and being at least partially defined by a plurality of longitudinal apices;
inserting a distal end of the elongated implant in a direction along the longitudinal axis through the first bone segment, transversely across the joint region and at least partially into the second bone segment, wherein at least one of the plurality of cross-sectional profiles is completely surrounded by the first bone segment, and wherein at least one of the plurality of cross-sectional profiles is completely surrounded by the second bone segment; and
implanting the elongated implant across the bone joint by leaving the elongated implant in place across the bone joint postoperatively.
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