Fracture fixation system and method

Abstract

A cerclage adjunct device including a plate, having a plurality of lateral extending bores passing through the plate, with the laterally extending bores configured to accommodate a length of binding under tension when the plate is placed in contact with a bone, and with the plurality of laterally extending bores disposed at a fixed longitudinal distance relative to each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fracture fixation system comprising:
 a plate having a plurality of laterally extending bores passing therethrough, the laterally extending bores configured to receive a length of binding under tension when the plate is placed in contact with a bone; and   the plurality of laterally extending bores disposed at a fixed longitudinal distance separate from each other relative to a longitudinal dimension of said plate.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plate has a top surface, a bottom surface, the bottom surface configured for contact with the bone. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom surface has a plurality of lateral channels. 
     
     
         4 . The system as in any of  claim 1 , wherein the plate further has a lateral curvature, wherein the bottom surface is concave. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the lateral curvature defines a radius from 10 mm-50 mm from the center of the bone. 
     
     
         6 . A fracture fixation system comprising:
 a first plate having a plurality of laterally extending wire bores passing therethrough, and a plurality of screw bores extending from a top surface through a bottom surface of the first plate;   an opposable second plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of laterally extending wire bores passing therethrough;   a plurality of bindings passing through the laterally extending wire bores of the first plate and the laterally extending wire bores of the second plate to connect the first plate with the second plate;   the plurality of laterally extending wire bores of the first plate disposed at a first fixed longitudinal distance separated from each other relative to a longitudinal dimension of said first plate; and   the plurality of laterally extending wire bores of the second plate disposed at a second fixed longitudinal distance separated from each other relative to a longitudinal dimension of said second plate.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first plate and the second plate are configured for contact with surfaces of opposite sides of a bone. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the bottom surface has a plurality of lateral channels. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first plate further has a lateral concave bottom surface curvature; and the second plate further has a lateral concave bottom surface curvature. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of laterally extending bores of the second plate comprises two laterally extending bores. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of laterally extending bores of the second plate comprises three laterally extending bores. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first plate and the opposable second plate are configured for compression force distribution along points of contact with a bone. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the bone is a femur with the first plate is positioned on the lateral surface of the femur and the second plate is positioned on the medial surface of the femur. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first fixed longitudinal distance is equal to the second longitudinal distance. 
     
     
         15 . A method of cerclage fixation comprising:
 aligning opposing portions of a fractured bone to set the bone;   placing a cerclage adjunct device plate on the fractured bone, the cerclage adjunct device plate comprising a first plate having a plurality of wire bores disposed laterally through the first plate at a fixed longitudinal distance relative to each other, and a plurality of screw bores extending from a top surface through a bottom surface of the first plate;   placing a cerclage adjunct device on an opposing side of the fractured bone, the cerclage adjunct device comprising a second plate and a plurality of wire bores disposed laterally through the second plate at a fixed longitudinal distance relative to each other;   threading a binding through each wire bore of the plurality of wire bores of the cerclage adjunct device plate;   threading a binding through each wire bore of the plurality of wire bores of the cerclage adjunct device; and   immobilizing the bone by imparting tension to the binding.   
     
     
         16 . The method of cerclage fixation of  claim 15 , wherein placing the cerclage adjunct device plate on the bone comprises displacing tissue;
 placing the cerclage adjunct device in position to insert screws;   inserting screws through the screw bores; and   replacing tissue.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein placing the cerclage adjunct device on the bone comprises placing the cerclage adjunct device under tissue. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the cerclage adjunct device plate and the cerclage adjunct device distribute compressive forces imparted through the tension to the binding. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the cerclage adjunct device plate distributes the compressive force along the first plate surface on the bone and the cerclage adjunct device distributes the compressive force along the second plate surface on the bone.