SURGICAL FIXATION PEG

Abstract: To facilitate tying together of two bones or parts of bones, such as upper and lower jaw bones, in a surgical procedure, a peg (10) comprises a screw threaded shaft (12), which is to be embedded into a bone, and an enlarged head (14). The head (14) has top and bottom surfaces (16, 28) and an annular groove (24) therebetween, which groove is preferably concave in cross section and up to 5mm wide. In use, pegs (10) embedded in respective bones are tied together by wires (20) or the like which are entrained about and retained in the grooves (24).

Description: SURGICAL FIXATION PEG This invention concerns a surgical fixation peg, that is to say a peg which is adapted to be partially embedded in bone and provide means of securing one or more wires, spring coils, cords or elastics bands, or the like, so that the latter can be used to tie together two or more bones or parts of bones. The invention is particularly applicable to intermaxillary or inter-dental fixation, where the upper and lower jaws of a patient are to be connected to each other and held at a fixed distance apart. However, the peg of the invention may also be used in other situations where bones or parts of bones need to be tied together. Naturally, at least one such peg needs to be provided on each bone or part bone which is to be connected. According to the invention, a surgical fixation peg comprises a shaft projecting from an enlarged head, the shaft being screw threaded and the head having top and bottom surfaces and an annular groove therearound in a region between said top and bottom surfaces. Therefore, in use, with the screw threaded shaft of at least one such peg embedded into respective bones or bone parts which are to be connected, wires, spring coils, cords or elastic bands can be entrained around the heads of these pegs, accommodated in the grooved areas thereof, so as to secure the bones or bone parts together. Preferably the annular groove of each such peg is concave in cross-section. The preferred material of the pegs is titanium. However, stainless steel or other suitable metal or non-metal materials may also be used. The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an intermaxillary fixation peg in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the peg of Fig. 1; Fig. 3. is a sketch showing four such pegs in use in the jaw area of a patient; and Fig. 4 is a schematic section along line IV-IV in Fig. 3. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, an intermaxillary or interdental fixation peg (10) consists of a shaft (12) extending from an enlarged head (14) . The shaft (12) is screw threaded and self tapping in that it will form its own threaded bore as it is screwed into bone. It is about 2mm in diameter and pointed at its end remote from the head (14) . The shaft may be about 12mm long. The head (14) is about 4mm in diameter and has a slightly convex upper surface (16) , centrally of which there is a hexagonal recess (18) for reception of a correspondingly shaped head of a screw driver (not shown) . The head (14) is also about 4mm high and an annular groove (24) , which is of concave cross section and may be about 2mm wide, is formed in its central region, intermediate its upper surface (16) and its lower surface (28) . The peg (10) is made of titanium. In use, as illustrated in Figs. 3 & 4, two such pegs (10) are screwed into each of the upper and lower jaw bones, using a hexagonal headed screwdriver engaging into the recess (18) . Once these are suitably secured, wires (20) , or other similar elongate elements, are guided around the protruding heads (14) , locating in the grooves (24) and are pulled as tight as is necessary and then secured by tying or twisting together or some other means. Because the wires (20) locate in the grooves (24) , they are retained by the overhanging upper portions (26) of the heads (14) . Therefore, there is no tendency for the wires (20) to slide off the heads of the pegs (10) . The foregoing is, of course, illustrative and not limitative of the scope of the invention. The dimensions are only given by way of example and may be varied in other embodiments. Also the material of the peg and the shape of any recess provided to allow tightening/loosening by means of a screwdriver may be varied from those mentioned in connection with the illustrated embodiment. Other variations in details e.g. cross section of the groove, are also possible.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A surgical fixation peg comprising a shaft projecting from an enlarged head, the shaft being screw threaded and the head having top and bottom surfaces and an annular groove therearound in a region between said top and bottom surfaces. 2. A peg as claimed in claim 1 wherein the head has a recess in its top surface, which recess is adapted for reception of a screwdriver tip. 3. A peg as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the annular groove is concave in cross section. 4. A peg as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the annular groove is up to 5mm wide. 5. A peg as claimed in claim 4 wherein the annular groove is from 1 to 3mm wide. 6. A peg as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the head is up to 7mm thick. 7. A peg as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the head is up to 6mm in diameter. 8. A peg as claimed in any preceding claim and made of titanium. 9. A surgical fixation peg substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Inventors: BROWN PAUL FRANCIS, JONES DAVID CARL, BROWN, PAUL, FRANCIS, JONES, DAVID, CARL
Applicants: BROWN PAUL FRANCIS, JONES DAVID CARL, SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY UK LIMITED, BROWN, PAUL, FRANCIS, JONES, DAVID, CARL, SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY (UK) LIMITED
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A61B17
IPC codes: A61B17