Patent ID: 8187308

Claim:
A treatment method for maintaining a first bone structure in a distracted state, comprising: creating a first passage through a talus substantially along a pivot axis of the ankle joint; inserting an axle through the first passage, the axle including structural features that prevent relative rotation of the axle relative to the talus; implanting a fibula bone plate in contact with and adjacent to the lateral side of the fibula such that a connection feature in the fibula bone plate aligns with the axis of the axle; connecting the axle to the fibula bone plate to provide articulating movement of the talus with the axle relative to the fibula; implanting a tibia bone plate in contact with and adjacent to the medial side of the tibia such that a connection feature in the tibia bone plate aligns with the axis of the axle; connecting the axle to the tibia bone plate to provide articulating movement of the talus with the axle relative to the tibia; creating a second passage through both the tibia and fibula that aligns with a connection feature on each of the fibula and tibia plates; implanting a pin through the second passage that connects to both the fibular fibula and tibia bone plates.