CLAIMS
The invention claimed is:
1. A method of treating a sacroiliac joint at a sacroiliac joint region having a sacrum, an ilium and a sacroiliac joint space therebetween, the ilium comprising a posterior inferior iliac spine (PIIS) and a posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS), the method comprising:
delivering a joint implant into the sacroiliac joint region via a posterior approach such that the joint implant passes through a posterior access region defined between the PSIS and the PIIS, the joint implant being oriented in the sacroiliac joint space such that a portion of the joint implant is positioned within a joint plane of the sacroiliac joint space, the joint implant comprising a body including a length extending between a proximal end and the distal end, an external surface extending the length, and a fixation member receiving channel extending the length and disposed in the external surface; and
delivering a fixation member into the fixation member receiving channel such that the fixation member passes through the posterior access region defined between the PSIS and the PIIS thereby forming a joint implant assembly, the fixation member slidingly and matingly engaging the fixation member receiving channel in a grooved arrangement, wherein, when the fixation member is received into the fixation member receiving channel, the fixation member extends outward from the external surface of the joint implant and extends a portion of the length.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixation member receiving channel is open at a first channel end and closed at a second channel end such that the fixation member is limited in advancement within the fixation member receiving channel by the second channel end.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixation member comprises a channel insertion element configured to engage the fixation member receiving channel and a projection element coupled to the channel insertion element, wherein, when the joint implant is delivered into the sacroiliac joint region and when the fixation member is delivered into the fixation member receiving channel, the projection element is configured to extend from the external surface and into engagement with at least one of the sacrum or the ilium.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the fixation member comprises a terminal element coupled to the projection element, the projection element having a cross section generally perpendicular to a length of the fixation member that is different than a cross section of the terminal element generally perpendicular to the length of the fixation member.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the cross section of the terminal element generally perpendicular to the length of the fixation member includes a T-shape configuration.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the cross section of the terminal element generally perpendicular to the length of the fixation member includes a dovetail configuration.
7. The method of claim 4, wherein the cross section of the terminal element generally perpendicular to the length of the fixation member includes a circular configuration.
8. The method of claim 4, wherein the cross section of the terminal element generally perpendicular to the length of the fixation member includes an ovular configuration.
9. The method of claim 4, wherein the terminal element comprises one or more aperture elements which communicate between opposite sides of the terminal element.
10. The method of claim 4, wherein the projection element comprises one or more aperture elements which communicate between opposite sides of the projection element.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixation member includes a transverse I-shaped cross section, and the grooved arrangement includes a slot defined in the body and including a transverse T-shaped cross section, wherein one end of the transverse I-shaped cross section is matingly received in the transverse T-shaped cross section when the fixation element is delivered into the fixation member receiving channel.
12. The method of claim 3, wherein the fixation member receiving channel comprises a cross section shape transverse to the length such that a first portion of the fixation receiving channel that is in close proximity to the external surface comprises a first void width that is substantially less than a second void width of a second portion of the fixation receiving channel that is in farther proximity to the external surface.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first portion and the second portion form a T-shape configuration.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the joint implant assembly further comprises an anti-migration element configured to prevent the fixation member from separating from the body of the joint implant.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the anti-migration element comprises sufficient dimensional relations to include one or more bores which communicate between opposed surfaces and dimensioned to receive mechanical fasteners therethrough.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the anti-migration element further comprises the one or more bores which communicate between the opposed surfaces, the one or more bores configured to receive mechanical fasteners therethrough.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the posterior access region includes a lateral border and a medial border, the lateral border defined by a portion of the ilium between the PSIS and the PIIS, the medial border defined by a portion of the sacrum.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the posterior access region defines a natural opening into the sacroiliac joint.
19. The method of claim 1, further comprising preparing surfaces of at least one of the sacrum and the ilium for the subsequent delivery of the joint implant into the sacroiliac joint region.
20. A method of treating a sacroiliac joint at a sacroiliac joint region having a sacrum, an ilium and a sacroiliac joint space therebetween, the ilium comprising a posterior inferior iliac spine (PIIS) and a posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS), the method comprising:
delivering a joint implant into the sacroiliac joint region via a posterior approach such that the joint implant passes through a posterior access region defined between the PSIS and the PIIS, the joint implant being oriented in the sacroiliac joint space such that a portion of the joint implant is positioned within a joint plane of the sacroiliac joint space, the joint implant comprising a body including a length extending between a proximal end and a distal end, an external surface extending the length, and a fixation member receiving channel extending the length and disposed in the external surface; and
delivering a fixation member into the fixation member receiving channel thereby forming a joint implant assembly, the fixation member slidingly and matingly engaging the fixation member receiving channel in a grooved arrangement, wherein, when the fixation member is received into the fixation member receiving channel, the fixation member extends outward from the external surface of the joint implant and extends a portion of the length, wherein the fixation member comprises a channel insertion element configured to engage the fixation member receiving channel, a projection element coupled to the channel insertion element and comprising one or more aperture elements which communicate between opposite sides of the projection element, and a terminal element coupled to the projection element and oriented generally perpendicular thereto,
wherein, when the joint implant is delivered into the sacroiliac joint region and when the fixation member is delivered into the fixation member receiving channel, the projection element is configured to extend from the external surface and into engagement with at least one of the sacrum or the ilium.
