Paragraph Number

162

Next, a parallel compressor/distractor 1500 such as the exemplary parallel compressor/distractor 1500 illustrated in FIG. 15 is used to distract the first metatarsal 230 relative to the first cuneiform 210. The user slides holes 1502a,b over pins 1280a,b and holes 1502c,d over pins 1280e,f. This causes a desired rotation and translation of the first metatarsal 230 relative to the first cuneiform 210. When a user places the parallel compressor/distractor 1500 on over these pins 1280a,b,e,f this forces the cut faces of the two bones to become parallel. Advantageously, the cut faces of the two bones can be forced to become parallel because the position, orientation, and angles of the holes 1278 and/or holes of either or both of the alignment feature 1260a and alignment feature 1260b can be predefined and customized for each patient when the cutting guide 1300 is fabricated. This alignment enables parallel compression of the two bones together using the parallel compressor/distractor 1500. Parallel compression enables more effective compression of the two bones together. Next, the space between the resected surfaces of the first cuneiform 210 and the first metatarsal 230 is prepared for fusion. Then, the parallel compressor/distractor 1500 is activated such that the first cuneiform 210 and the first metatarsal 230 are fused together. The parallel compressor/distractor 1500 may include a first leg 1504 and a second leg 1506. At one end of each leg 1504/1506, the leg may include a toe 1508/1510 at its distal end. In one embodiment, the toes 1508/1510 are angled to point towards each other. The angled configuration of the legs 1504/1506 by way of the toes 1508/1510 may apply a torque force at the toes 1508/1510 which may further assist in pressing two bones connected to the parallel compressor/distractor 1500 together.

Added by DJM 2 2022