Paragraph Number

71

In one embodiment, the bone tunnel 340 extends from the natural articular surface 260 of a bone, such as a first metatarsal 110, to another surface of the bone. The another surface can be one of the dorsal surface 210, the plantar surface 220, the medial surface 230, and/or the lateral surface 240 (not shown in FIG. 3). The proximal end 342 may exit at, or near, the another surface. In the illustrated embodiment, the proximal end 342 exits at, or near, the dorsal surface 210. The distal end 344 may exit directly on the natural articular surface 260. In another embodiment, the distal end 344 may exit indirectly onto the natural articular surface 260 by way of another structure, such as a recess or opening, such as a bone pocket (described in more detail below). The length and diameter of the bone tunnel 340 can vary based on a variety of factors including the age, gender, health, size, the joint involved, and/or bone condition of a patient. In one embodiment, the diameter may be between about 1.5 mm and 1.6 mm and the length may be between about 10 mm to about 15 mm.

Added by DJM 2 2022