Orthopedic compression plate and method of surgery

Abstract

An orthopedic plate has a first end including a locking screw hole that receives a locking screw and spaced from that hole is a closed compression housing that extends from the bone-facing side of the plate and which receives a compression screw that forms an angle of from about 10° to about 70° with a longitudinal axis of the plate. The compression housing is not located on the medial line of the plate, but is peripheral to the medial line, either in the longitudinal or the medial direction of the plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plate and screw system which is capable of fixation of bone comprising a plate and a locking screw and a compression screw, the plate having a top surface opposing a bone facing surface in the z direction which opposes a bone surface, and the plate extending along a first length along a longitudinal axis and having a body extending along the longitudinal axis and defining a first end and a second end, the body defining a medial line, the first end having a terminal portion with a locking hole and the plate including a compression screw housing located at a position spaced apart from the first end and not located on the medial line and defining a compression screw hole extending at a compression screw angle relative to the longitudinal axis which angle is not 90°, and the compression screw housing extending from the bone facing surface of the plate. 
     
     
         2 . A plate and screw system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the compression screw angle is from about 10° to about 70° relative to the longitudinal axis in the z direction. 
     
     
         3 . A plate and screw system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the compression screw angle is from about 20° to about 60° relative to the longitudinal axis in the z direction. 
     
     
         4 . A plate and screw system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the compression screw housing is peripheral to the medial line. 
     
     
         5 . A plate and screw system as set forth in  claim 1 , further including a plurality of locking screws, and wherein the first end of the plate defines a plurality of tabs, each tab including a threaded hole for a locking screw. 
     
     
         6 . A plate and screw system as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the first end defines a tab which is longitudinally aligned with the second end so as to provide for bilateral mirror symmetry about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         7 . A plate and a screw system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plate includes a mid-section between the first end and the second end, and the mid-section includes an offset of between 2° and 14°. 
     
     
         8 . A plate and a screw system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the first end has three tabs which each include a locking hole, and the second end has two holes which each include a locking hole, and the compression screw housing is located intermediate the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         9 . A plate and a screw system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the first end has only two tabs which each include a locking hole and the second end has only three lobes which each include a locking hole and the second end further includes a fourth lobe which includes the compression hole. 
     
     
         10 . A plate and screw system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plate is a MTP plate. 
     
     
         11 . A plate and a screw system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plate is a lapidus plate. 
     
     
         12 . A plate and a screw system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plate further includes a slot having a width which is only wide enough to accommodate a guide wire, and a length which is greater than the width. 
     
     
         13 . A plate and a screw system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plate bone facing surface includes a curve in the z direction. 
     
     
         14 . A plate and a screw system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the compression screw housing has a front surface which includes an opening for the compression screw, side and a bone facing surface which is connected to the front surface and to the bone facing surface of the plate so that the compression screw housing is closed to the bone surface. 
     
     
         15 . A plate and a screw system as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the compression screw has a head having a first diameter connected to a necked portion having a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter and the opening for the compression screw is sized relative to first and second diameter so that the compression housing allows at least 5° of conical angulation of the compression screw in the compression housing. 
     
     
         16 . A plate and a screw system as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the opening for the compression screw is sized so that the compression housing allows at least 10° of conical angulation of the compression screw in the compression housing. 
     
     
         17 . A plate and a screw system as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the opening for the compression screw forms a slot which allows for linear angulation of the compression screw in the compression housing.