Anatomical distal radius fracture fixation plate and methods of using the same

• US 20040193165A1
• Filed: 10/21/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Innovations Inc (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Orbay, Jorge L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,282,053 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/281
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8057 the interlocking form comprising a thread
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8061 specially adapted for particular bones A61B17/70 and A61B17/74 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8095 Wedge osteotomy devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/863 with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/565 for surgical correction of axial deviation, e.g. hallux valgus or genu valgus

Abstract

A fixation plate includes a set of threaded peg holes adapted to individually receive fixation pegs therethrough and non-threaded alignment holes having a relatively smaller diameter than the peg holes and preferably sized to closely receive a K-wire. The alignment holes are located between the peg holes. One alignment hole is configured for aligning the plate during an osteotomy procedure, while other alignment holes are configured for use after fracture reduction and receive K-wires to temporarily stabilize the fracture and secure the plate to the bone and determine whether pegs inserted through adjacent respective peg holes will be properly located before drilling relatively larger holes for such pegs.

Claims

1. A method of stabilizing a bone fracture, comprising:

a) reducing the fracture;

b) providing a plate;

c) placing the plate over the fracture;

d) temporarily stabilizing the reduction by fixing the plate over the fracture with K-wires;

e) more permanently fixing the plate over the fracture with a plurality of fasteners having threads along one or more portions thereof; and

f) removing the K-wires.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said providing the plate includes providing a plate with a plurality of first holes sized to closely receive the K-wires and stabilize the K-wires to prevent angular displacement of the K-wires relative to longitudinal axes through said plurality of first holes, and

the K-wires are inserted through the first holes to temporarily stabilize the reduced fracture.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein:

reducing the fracture includes reducing a fracture at or adjacent a metaphysis of a long bone,

providing the plate includes providing a plate having a head portion configured and dimensioned to conform to a metaphysis of a bone and a shaft portion configured and dimensioned to conform to a diaphysis of a bone, and

wherein the holes in the plate are provided in the head portion at oblique angles which guide the K-wires to lie behind the articular surface of the metaphysis.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein:

said providing the plate includes providing the plate with second and third holes, and said more permanently fixing includes fixing the plate to the bone with a combination of fasteners through the second holes which lock relative to the plate and fasteners through the third which do not lock relative to the plate.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein:

said second holes are provided in the head portion and the third holes are provided in the shaft portion.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

said providing the plate includes providing the plate with second and third holes, and said more permanently fixing includes fixing the plate to the bone with a combination of fasteners through the second holes which lock relative to the plate and fasteners through the third which do not lock relative to the plate.

7. A method of a stabilizing a fractured bone, comprising:

a) reducing the bone fracture;

b) providing a plate having an arrangement of first holes and an adjacent arrangement of second holes substantially smaller in diameter;

c) seating the plate over the fracture;

d) temporarily stabilizing the reduced fracture by fixing the plate over the fracture with K-wires inserted through the second holes and into the bone;

e) more permanently fixing the plate over the fracture with a plurality of fasteners through the first holes; and

f) removing the K-wires.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:

after said temporarily fixing and prior to said more permanently fixing the plate, examining the shape defined by the K-wires within the bone.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein:

said examining includes fluoroscopic examination.

10. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

after said examining and prior to said more permanently fixing the plate, reseating the plate over the fracture.

11. A method according to claim 7, wherein:

the plate has a head portion configured and dimensioned to conform to a metaphysis of a bone and a shaft portion configured and dimensioned to conform to a diaphysis of a bone, and the first and second holes are provided in the head portion of the plate.

12. A method according to claim 7, wherein:

the plate has a head portion configured and dimensioned to conform to a metaphysis of a bone and a shaft portion configured and dimensioned to conform to a diaphysis of a bone, and the first and second holes are provided in the shaft portion of the plate.

13. A method of stabilizing a fractured bone, comprising:

a) reducing the bone fracture;

b) inserting a framework of K-wires into the bone;

c) providing a plate over the reduced fracture; and

d) inserting a plurality of fasteners through the plate and into the bone, said fasteners inserted to substantially correspond to a surface defined by the framework of K-wires.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

removing the K-wires.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

said inserting includes inserting the framework in solely a generally volar to dorsal direction.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

said framework of K-wires is inserted through holes in the plate provided over the reduced fracture.

17. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

said framework of K-wires corresponds to the subchondral bone.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein:

said subchondral bone is of the distal radius bone.

19. A method of performing an osteotomy, comprising:

a) drilling a K-wire through a portion of a bone;

b) using the K-wire as a guide, positioning a bone plate over the K-wire and against an aspect of the bone;

c) securing a first portion of the bone plate to the bone;

d) performing an osteotomy; and

e) securing a second portion of the plate to the bone on a side of the bone opposite the osteotomy.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein:

said drilling is in relation to an anatomical landmark.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein:

said anatomical landmark is an articular surface.

22. A method according to claim 19, wherein:

said securing a first portion includes inserting a plurality of pegs through threaded holes in the plate and into the bone, the pegs having threaded heads which lock relative to the threaded holes.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein:

said securing a second portion includes inserting a plurality of non-locking screws through holes in the plate and into the bone.