Plantar bone fusion plate

Abstract

A plantar bone plate and a method are provided for treating fractures of metatarsal bones. The plantar bone plate comprises a generally elongate member having an upper surface and a lower, bone contact surface. Two or more fixation apertures and a compression slot are disposed along a longitudinal dimension of the elongate member. The fixation apertures receive fasteners suitable for fastening the plantar bone plate to a metatarsal bone. The compression slot receives a fastener at an oblique angle for compressing adjacent portions of the metatarsal bone so as to encourage bone fusion. A curvature along the elongate member is configured to mate the plantar bone plate with the anatomy of the plantar aspect of the metatarsal bone. In one embodiment, the curvature is comprised of at least a first bend and a second bend, such that the plantar bone plate mates with the plantar anatomy of the 5th metatarsal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plantar bone plate for treating fractures of a metatarsal bone, comprising:
 a generally elongate member having an upper surface and a lower, bone contact surface;   two or more fixation apertures disposed along a longitudinal dimension of the elongate member and configured to receive fasteners suitable for fastening the plantar bone plate to the metatarsal bone;   a compression slot configured to receive a fastener perpendicular to the upper surface or at an oblique angle for compressing adjacent portions of the metatarsal bone so as to encourage bone fusion; and   a curvature along the elongate member configured to mate with the anatomy of the plantar aspect of the metatarsal bone.   
     
     
         2 . The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the plantar bone plate is comprised of a material possessing a tensile strength suitable for immobilizing adjacent bone portions of the metatarsal bone. 
     
     
         3 . The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more fixation apertures are configured to receive bone screws. 
     
     
         4 . The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more fixation apertures comprises at least four fixation apertures. 
     
     
         5 . The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more fixation apertures each is comprised of a countersunk surface disposed below the upper surface and configured to allow a countersunk head of a fastener to assume a level that is above, flush with, or disposed below the upper surface when the fastener is tightened to hold the plantar bone plate against the metatarsal bone. 
     
     
         6 . The bone plate of  claim 5 , wherein the countersunk surface comprises a chamfer angle that ranges between substantially 60° and 120°. 
     
     
         7 . The bone plate of  claim 6 , wherein the countersunk surface is configured to provide a locking feature that prevents the fastener from backing out after being implanted into a bone. 
     
     
         8 . The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the curvature is comprised of a first bend and a second bend along the longitudinal dimension of the plantar bone plate. 
     
     
         9 . The bone plate of  claim 8 , wherein the first bend is comprised of a slightly curved portion that is concaved toward the upper surface and extends from substantially a middle portion of the plantar bone plate to a beginning of the second bend. 
     
     
         10 . The bone plate of  claim 8 , wherein the second bend is comprised of a curved portion that is concaved away from the upper surface and extends from the first bend to a proximal end of the plantar bone plate. 
     
     
         11 . The bone plate of  claim 8 , wherein a flat portion of the plantar bone plate extends from the first bend to a distal end of the plantar bone plate. 
     
     
         12 . The bone plate of  claim 8 , wherein the first bend and the second bend comprise a tangent reverse curve. 
     
     
         13 . The bone plate of  claim 8 , wherein the second bend comprises a smaller radius than a radius of the first bend. 
     
     
         14 . The bone plate of  claim 8 , wherein the first bend and the second bend are configured so as to mate the plantar bone plate with the plantar anatomy of the metatarsal bone. 
     
     
         15 . The bone plate of  claim 14 , wherein the first bend and the second bend are configured such that the curvature of the plantar bone plate mates with the plantar anatomy of the 5 th  metatarsal. 
     
     
         16 . The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the curvature is comprised of one or more curves along a lateral dimension of the plantar bone plate that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension. 
     
     
         17 . The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the curvature is comprised of a combination of one or more curves along the longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension of the elongate member. 
     
     
         18 . The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the curvature is configured to mate the plantar bone plate with a specific anatomy of a bone to be treated. 
     
     
         19 . A method for a plantar bone plate for treating fractures of a metatarsal bone, comprising:
 providing a generally elongate member having an upper surface and a lower surface;   disposing two or more fixation apertures along a longitudinal dimension of the elongate member;   configuring the two or more fixation apertures to receive fasteners suitable for fastening the plantar bone plate to the metatarsal bone;   forming a compression slot to receive a fastener perpendicular to the upper surface or at an oblique angle suitable for compressing adjacent portions of the metatarsal bone so as to encourage bone fusion; and   applying a curvature along the elongate member such that the plantar bone plate mates with the anatomy of the plantar aspect of the metatarsal bone.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein applying the curvature comprises forming at least a first bend and a second bend along the elongate member such that the plantar bone plate mates with the plantar anatomy of the 5 th  metatarsal. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein applying the curvature comprises forming a combination of one or more curves along the longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension of the plantar bone plate.