Bone fixation device and method

Abstract

Apparatus including a bone plate that may cooperate with a tension member for reduction and fixation of a bone fracture is disclosed. The bone plate may be configured with a wire channel that receives a tension member so that the reduction wire may extend between the bone plate and a tension post. The bone plate may include flexible members that flex to conform to the cortical surface and may also include a rigid retainer portion that may facilitate reduction and fixation of bone fractures.

1 . An apparatus for bone fracture reduction and fixation, comprising: 
 a first arm, the first arm including a first distal end, a first proximal end, and a flexible portion proximate the first distal end, the flexible portion configured to allow the first arm to conform to a cortical surface of the bone;    a second arm, the second arm including a second distal end, a second proximal end, and a flexible portion proximate the second distal end, the flexible portion configured to allow the second arm to conform to the cortical surface of the bone;    a base, the base including the first proximal end of the first arm secured to the second proximal end of the second arm;    a rigid retainer portion included in the base proximate the first proximal end of the first arm and the second proximal end of the second arm; and,    a plurality of attachment locations disposed about the base, the base securable to the cortical surface of the bone at said attachment locations to fixate the fracture.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus, as in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a tension post removably secured to a bone;    a wire channel, the wire channel included in the base;    a tension member, the tension member securable to the tension post and moveably trained by the wire channel to reduce a bone fracture in cooperation with the base.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus, as in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 the tension member removable from the tension post and removable from the wire channel; and,    the base having sufficient rigidity to maintain fixation of the bone fracture.    
   
   
       4 . An apparatus for bone fracture reduction and fixation, comprising: 
 a first arm, the first arm including a first distal end, a first proximal end, a first attachment location proximate the first distal end, and a flexible portion proximate the first distal end, the flexible portion configured to allow the first arm to conform to the cortical surface of the bone;    a second arm, the second arm including a second distal end, a second proximal end, a second attachment location proximate the second distal end, and a flexible portion proximate the second distal end, the flexible portion configured to allow the second arm to conform to the cortical surface of the bone;    a base securable to the cortical surface of a bone, the base including the first proximal end of the first arm secured to the second proximal end of the second arm, a third attachment location proximate the first proximal end of the first arm and the first proximal end of the second arm; and,    a rigid retainer portion, the rigid retainer portion proximate the third attachment location of the base.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus, as in  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a tension member;    a wire channel, the wire channel configured to slidably receive the tension member, the base includes the wire channel.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus, as in  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 the base configured so that the first attachment location and the second attachment location may be secured to a first fracture side and the third attachment location may be secured to a second fracture side, the base being sufficiently rigid to fixate the bone fracture.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus, as in  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 an apron, the base includes the apron generally proximate the third attachment point, the apron configured so that a fastener may be slidably received within the third attachment point.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus, as in  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a tension post removably secured to the bone;    a wire channel, the wire channel included in the base;    a tension member, the tension member securable to the tension post and moveably trained by the wire channel to reduce the fracture, the tension member removable from the tension post and removable from the channel; and,    the base configured so that the first attachment location and the second attachment location may be secured to a first bone fracture side and the third attachment location may be secured to a second bone fracture side to fixate the bone fracture.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus, as in  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 the first arm having a first arm length and a thickness of the flexible portion, the first arm length is from about 6 mm to about 15 mm and the thickness of the flexible portion is from about 0.25 mm to about 1.0 mm;    the second arm having a second arm length and a thickness of the flexible portion, the second arm length is from about 6 mm to about 15 mm and the thickness of the flexible portion is from about 0.25 mm to about 1.0 mm.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus, as in  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a collar around the first attachment location and a collar around the second attachment location.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus, as in  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 the first proximal end of the first arm secured to the second proximal end of the second arm to define an acute angle.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus, as in  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 the acute angle between about 45° and about 90°.    
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for bone fracture reduction and fixation, comprising: 
 a tension post securable to a cortical surface of the bone; a tension member removably securable to the tension post;    a base means for reduction and fixation of a bone fracture in cooperation with the tension post and in cooperation with the tension member;    an arm means for conforming the base to the bone surface comprising at least a portion of the base means;    an attachment means for securing the base means to the cortical surface of the bone;    a rigid retainer means for reducing a fracture, comprising at least a portion of the base means, for reducing the bone fracture; and,    a wire channel means for training the tension member during reduction of the bone fracture comprising at least a portion of the base means.