Importance

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Abstract

Existing bone dowels are improved through the use of rigid, preferably metallic end plates. The plates are positioned relative to the anterior and posterior end surfaces of the bone dowel, which may be an existing, modified, or a specially fabricated bone section. The completed structure may be inserted, removed, and positioned into the vertebrae in the same manner as existing devices, that is, by way of a threaded or frictional fit, just as the dowel being fortified. However, the use of the rigid endplates facilitates load sharing which helps to prevent graft fracture. In the preferred embodiment, the end plates are positioned against the end surfaces of the bone section through the use of a link member, which passes through the interior of the bone section and connects the end plates. One of the end plates may include a threaded bore, and one end of the link member may be threaded to receive the threaded bore of that end plate to hold it in place. The use of a link member allows a plurality of bone sections to be journaled onto the link member, with a disk of rigid, preferably metallic material to be interposed between each bone section. Alternatively, the end surfaces of the bone section may each include an aperture having an inside diameter, with each end plate having an outside diameter corresponding to the inside diameter of the apertures, enabling the end plates to be positioned against the end surfaces of the bone section through a frictional fit.

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First Claim