Orthopedic plate for use in fibula repair

Abstract

The present invention relates to an orthopedic plate for use in repair of a fibula. The plate has a Y-shaped profile which has the contour of a spoon where the bowl includes a terminal pair of arms that form differing angles and lengths relative to the trunk portion of the plate. The arms include locking screw holes where the screws converge toward each other, but do not impinge so as to provide multiplanar fixation.

1 . A method of enabling a surgery on the fibula comprising
 providing a surgical tray including at least one screw and a pre-contoured plate which is a Y-shaped plate, the plate comprising a trunk defining a longitudinal axis with a first end and an opposing second end, and a first arm and a second arm extending from the first end of the trunk, the trunk having a constant radial curve in the z direction about the longitudinal axis, and the first arm and the second arm spiraling about the longitudinal axis toward each other,   the first arm having an ear with at least one screw hole defining a first screw axis perpendicular to a tangent to the top surface of the first ear, the first ear being attached to the trunk by a linking section having a waist, a first angle and a first length being defined by a line from the center of the first arm screw hole to the intersection of the longitudinal axis of the trunk,   the second arm having a second ear with at least one second screw hole defining a second screw axis perpendicular to a tangent to the top surface of the second ear, the second ear being attached to the trunk by a linking section having a waist, a second angle and a second length being defined by a line from the center of the second arm screw hole to the intersection of the longitudinal axis of the trunk.   the first angle and the first length being different from the second angle and the second length whereby the first screw axis and the second screw axis converge toward the inferior side of the plate but do not intersect so as to provide for multiplanar fixation, and   the tray further including a plate bender which will bend the linking section of the first arm and the second arm without deforming the screw hole of the arm and a drill guide.   
     
     
         2 . A method of enabling a surgery as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the first screw hole and the second screw hole include internal threads. 
     
     
         3 . A method of enabling a surgery as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the waist of the linking section of the first arm and of the second arm is configured to bend relative to the trunk section in response to a force applied before or during surgery without deforming the screw hole.