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 surgical plate, comprising:
 a body extending between a top surface, a bottom surface, a proximal end, and a distal end;   a first tab and a second tab formed integrally with a proximal end of the body, wherein the first tab and the second tab each define a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, wherein the hole is sized and configured to receive a screw therethrough; and   a compression housing extending from a bottom surface of the plate, wherein an opening is defined from the top surface of the plate to a surface of the compression housing.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical plate of  claim 1 , wherein the first tab and the second tab are symmetrical with respect to the body. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical plate of  claim 1 , wherein the hole defined in each of the first tab and the second tab comprise threaded locking holes. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical plate of  claim 3 , wherein the hole defined in each of the first tab and the second tab is sized and configured to receive a locking screw therein. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical plate of  claim 1 , wherein the compression housing comprises a rectangular flat proximal surface and a plurality of flat side walls. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical plate of  claim 4 , wherein the opening defined in the surface of the compression housing is defined through one of the plurality of flat side walls. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical plate of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is sized and configured to receive a shaft of a compression screw therethrough. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical plate of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the body comprises a chamfer configured for insertion into a bone. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical plate of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the body comprises an elongated tab. 
     
     
         10 . A system, comprising
 a surgical plate, comprising:
 a body extending between a top surface, a bottom surface, a proximal end, and a distal end; 
 a first tab and a second tab formed integrally with a proximal end of the body, wherein the first tab and the second tab each define a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, wherein the hole is sized and configured to receive a screw therethrough; and 
 a compression housing extending from a bottom surface of the plate, wherein an opening is defined from the top surface of the plate to a surface of the compression housing; 
   at least one locking screw sized and configured to be received within the hole defined in each of the first tab and the second tab; and   at least one compression screw sized and configured to be received within the opening.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first tab and the second tab of the surgical plate are symmetrical with respect to the body of the surgical plate. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the hole defined in each of the first tab and the second tab comprise threaded locking holes. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the compression housing comprises a rectangular flat proximal surface and a plurality of flat side walls. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the opening defined in the surface of the compression housing is defined through one of the plurality of flat side walls. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the opening comprises a first opening formed in the plate having a first diameter and a second opening formed in the compression housing having a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first diameter is greater than a diameter of a head of the compression screw and the second diameter is less than the diameter of the head of the compression screw but greater than a diameter of a shaft of the compression screw. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the distal end of the body comprises a chamfer configured for insertion into a bone. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the hole defined in each of the first tab and the second tab is sized and configured to receive a head of the locking screw therein. 
     
     
         19 . A surgical plate, comprising:
 a body extending between a top surface, a bottom surface, a proximal end, and a distal end, the body defining a first opening extending from the top surface to the bottom surface;   a first tab and a second tab formed integrally with a proximal end of the body, wherein the first tab and the second tab each define a hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, wherein the hole is sized and configured to receive a screw therethrough; and   a shroud extending from a bottom surface of the plate, wherein the shroud defines a second opening extending from the bottom surface of the plate to a surface of the shroud, and wherein the first opening defined in the plate and the second opening defined in the shroud are concentric.   
     
     
         20 . The surgical plate of  claim 19 , wherein the first opening has a first diameter and the second opening has a second diameter, and wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter.