Bone Plating System

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bone plating system and method for fracture fixation of bone. The bone plating system includes a bone plate, at least one locking screw, and at least one non-locking screw. The bone plate has locking holes with threads and non-locking holes. The locking screws have a shaft with a thread for engaging bone and a head with a thread configured and dimensioned to mate with the thread of the locking holes. The non-locking screws have a thread for engaging bone and a non-threaded head. Both the locking and non-locking screws remain seated in their respective holes for substantially as long as the bone plate is implanted. The non-locking screws compress the bone plate against the bone and hold fracture reduction while the locking screws are secured to the plate at a fixed angular relationship. The mixed fixation achieved by this bone plating system and method is particularly useful for treatment of per-articular fractures.

1 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . A bone plate comprising:
 a head portion having a curved surface configured and dimensioned to conform to a metaphysis of a bone;   a shaft portion configured and dimensioned to conform to a diaphysis of a bone, the shaft including an anterior fork extending substantially parallel to an anterior of the shaft portion and a posterior fork extending from a posterior of the shaft portion;   a first screw hole passing through the plate from an outer surface to a bone-facing surface of the head portion, the first screw hole being dimensioned to slidingly receive therein a threaded, bone-engaging shaft of a first screw and including a thread dimensioned to engage a corresponding thread of a head of the first screw to retain the first screw seated in the first screw hole for substantially as long as the bone plate is implanted; and   a second, non-threaded screw hole passing through the plate from an outer surface to a bone-facing surface of the shaft for receiving therein a second screw having a threaded, bone-engaging shaft and a head.   
     
     
         56 . The bone plate of  claim 55 , wherein the head portion is twisted. 
     
     
         57 . The bone plate of  claim 55 , wherein the head portion is tapered. 
     
     
         58 . The bone plate of  claim 55 , wherein the head portion includes at least one suture hole. 
     
     
         59 . The bone plate of  claim 55 , wherein the head portion includes no non-threaded holes. 
     
     
         60 . The bone plating system of  claim 55 , wherein the shaft portion terminates in a tapered tail. 
     
     
         61 . A bone plate defining an outer surface and a bone-facing surface, the bone plate comprising:
 a curved head portion configured and dimensioned to conform to a metaphysis of a bone, the head portion including first and second threaded holes extending therethrough from the outer surface to the bone-facing surface thereof, diameters of the first and second holes being different from one another, the threading of the first and second threaded holes being dimensioned to engage threadings on heads of first and second screws, respectively;   a shaft portion extending from the head portion and configured and dimensioned to conform to a diaphysis of a bone, the shaft portion including an anterior fork extending substantially parallel to an anterior side of the shaft portion and a posterior fork extending from a posterior side of the shaft portion, wherein at least a first threaded hole and a second threaded hole are located in the head portion, and the first threaded hole and the second threaded hole have different diameters; and   at least one non-threaded hole passing through the plate from the outer to the bone-facing surface thereof.   
     
     
         62 . The bone plate of  claim 61 , wherein axes of the first and second threaded holes converge. 
     
     
         63 . The bone plate of  claim 61 , wherein axes of the first and second threaded holes converge on a bone-facing side of the plate. 
     
     
         64 . A bone plate defining an outer surface and a bone-facing surface opposite the outer surface, the bone plate comprising:
 a head portion configured and dimensioned to conform to a metaphysis of a bone, the head portion including a plurality of first screw holes extending therethrough from the outer surface to the bone-facing surface, each of the first screw holes including an internal threading dimensioned to engage a threading formed on a head of a screw to be inserted thereinto; and   a shaft portion configured and dimensioned to conform to a diaphysis of a bone, the shaft portion including a plurality of second screw holes extending therethrough from the outer surface to the bone-facing surface, the second screw holes including at least one threaded hole including an internal threading dimensioned to engage a threading formed on a head of a screw to be inserted thereinto and at least one non-threaded hole.   
     
     
         65 . The bone plate of  claim 64 , wherein the at least one threaded second hole has a double lead thread. 
     
     
         66 . The bone plate of  claim 64 , wherein the head portion is twisted. 
     
     
         67 . The bone plate of  claim 64 , wherein the head portion is tapered. 
     
     
         68 . The bone plate of  claim 64 , wherein the head portion is curved. 
     
     
         69 . The bone plate of  claim 64 , wherein the head portion includes at least one suture hole. 
     
     
         70 . The bone plate of  claim 64 , wherein an end of the shaft portion opposite the head portion terminates in a tapered tail. 
     
     
         71 . The bone plate of  claim 64 , wherein the shaft portion has a substantially trapezoidal shaped cross-section in a region between the threaded and non-threaded screw holes to minimize contact between the bone-facing surface and a bone on which the plate is mounted. 
     
     
         72 . The bone plate of  claim 64 , wherein the head portion flares outward from the shaft portion.