Apparatus and methods for bone fracture fixation

Abstract

Apparatus and methods to facilitate fixation of a fracture are disclosed. These apparatus include a bone plate for the fixation of a fractured bone having a plurality of fastener openings so that the bone plate may be secured by a plurality of fasteners across a reduced fracture to fixate a reduced fracture. The bone plate is configured to flex in situ to conform to the surface of the bone while providing sufficient stiffness in the plane of the device to resist forces and moments in the plane. Methods of use of the present invention include fastening the bone plate to a first side of the fracture, flexing portions of the bone plate to bias against the bone surface on the second side of the fracture, fastening the portions of the bone plate so biased to the second side of the fracture, thereby fixating the fracture by fastening the bone plate to the second side of the fracture.

1 . An apparatus for the fixation of a bone fracture, comprising: 
 a bone plate;    the bone plate defining a first surface, the first surface being distal to a bone surface and configured to be biased against the bone surface;    the bone plate defining a second surface, the second surface being proximal to the bone surface;    the bone plate including a plurality of fastener openings disposed between the first surface and the second surface so that the bone plate may be secured to the bone surface by a plurality of fasteners;    the bone plate defining a plane and a perpendicular to the plane;    the bone plate configured with thin regions to provide flexibility in the perpendicular direction so that the bone plate may flex in situ to conform to a bone surface; and,    the bone plate configured in the plane to have stiffness in the plane sufficient to maintain the fracture in a state of repose.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus for the fixation of a bone fracture, comprising: 
 a bone plate, the bone plate, the bone plate configured as a first arm and the bone plate defining a plane and a perpendicular to the plane;    the first arm having one or more thick regions and one or more thin regions, the one or more thick regions and the one or more thin regions disposed about the first arm so that the first arm may flex in situ to conform to a bone surface; and,    the bone plate further configured so as to have sufficient stiffness in the plane to support the bone in the plane and to resist out of plane rotation.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a second arm, the second arm having one or more thick regions and one or more thin regions, the one or more thick regions and the one or more thin regions disposed about the second arm so that the second arm may flex in situ to conform to a bone surface;    the second arm secured by a first end to a first end of the first arm to form a bone plate having a V-shaped structure; and,    the bone plate further configured so as to have sufficient stiffness in the plane to support the bone in the plane and to resist out of plane rotation.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a channel, the channel configured to slidably receive a reduction wire.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising an apron, the apron configured to be received by a fastener and held by the fastener when the fastener is tightened to engage the apron  
   
   
       6 . A method for fixating a bone fracture, comprising: 
 securing the bone plate to a first fracture side;    flexing the bone plate in situ in the direction perpendicular to the plane such that a first surface  130  is biased against a bone surface on a second fracture side; and,    securing the bone plate to the bone surface on the second fracture side.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 placing a reduction wire mount on a second fracture side;    attaching a reduction wire to the reduction wire mount;    receiving the reduction wire in a channel configured into the bone plate; and    reducing the fracture by applying tension to the tension wire.