Patent ID: 8298289

Claim:
A method of implanting an orthopedic device in a patient, comprising: inserting a needle through a first joint capsule opening of a joint space located at a dorsal side of a carpo-metacarpal joint; passing the needle with an attached suture across the joint space and piercing through tissue to form a second joint capsule opening located at an opposite palmar side of the carpo-metacarpal joint, wherein the second joint capsule opening is smaller than the first joint capsule opening; pulling a resilient orthopedic device into the joint space using the suture, wherein the resilient orthopedic device comprises a first end, a second end, and a body therebetween having an elongate arcuate configuration; separating at least a portion of the suture from the resilient orthopedic device; and removing at least a portion of the suture from the patient.