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Abstract

An apparatus and method for performing a cuneiform osteotomy as provided, the apparatus including a drill jig and an osteotomy guide. The jig has first and second faces which terminate in edges and which define a recess extending therethrough and intersecting an edge thereof, the jig further defining a pair of jig bores extending therethrough in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first jig face, one of each of the jig bores being disposed to each side of the recess. The jig bores are each adapted to properly position a drill bit extending therethrough and into the bone against which the second jig face is adapted to be disposed and to which the osteotomy is being performed. The osteotomy guide has first and second substantially parallel faces which complement the first jig face and which terminate in lateral edges. The guide defines a pair of guide bores extending therethrough in a direction substantially perpendicular to the guide faces, the guide bores being spaced from each other a distance equal to the spacing of the jig bores. Therefore, each of the guide bores is adapted to receive one of the drill bits to permit relative alignment of the jig and guide with respect to each other and the bone. The guide further defines a slot extending therethrough across less than the entire width of the guide and intersecting an edge thereof. The slot extends at an oblique angle with respect to a line drawn between the jig bores. Thus, the guide may be mounted to the jig with either of the guide faces disposed against the first jig face permitting the guide slot to be disposed in a first and then in a second angular position with respect to the bone. This facilitates cutting the bone in first and second cuts to excise a bone wedge of an angle alpha which is equal to the difference between the first and second angular positions of the slot.

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First Claim