Low profile distal radius fracture fixation plate

• US 20050065522A1
• Filed: 11/10/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Orbay, Jorge L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,250,053 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. The head of the plate has a shape and contour which provides bone support and a low profile which minimizes the potential for soft tissue irritation.

Claims

1. A fixation plate for use with a plurality of fixation pegs each having a threaded head, said fixation plate comprising:

a substantially rigid plate having a body portion and a head portion angled in a Z-direction relative to said body portion, said plate sized to accommodate the anatomy of the volar side of the distal radius bone, said head portion having a buttress portion distally tapering in thickness,

wherein said plate defines a first set of substantially linearly arranged holes proximal said buttress portion and a second set of substantially linearly arranged holes at least partially defined in said buttress portion.

2. A fixation plate according to claim 1, wherein:

each of said first set of peg holes is structurally adapted to engage the threaded head of one of the fixation pegs with a threaded head and retain the fixation pegs in a fixed angle relationship with said plate.

3. A fixation plate according to claim 2, wherein:

each of said first set of peg holes is threaded.

4. A fixation plate according to claim 3, wherein:

each of said first set of peg holes defines an axis which is obliquely oriented in at least one dimension relative to the other axes of said first set of peg holes.

5. A fixation plate according to claim 4, wherein:

each of said first set of peg holes defines an axis which is obliquely oriented in two dimensions relative to the other axes of said first set of peg holes.

6. A fixation plate according to claim 1, wherein:

said first set of peg holes includes at least four peg holes.

7. A fixation plate according to claim 6, wherein:

said second set of peg holes includes at least two peg holes.

8. A fixation plate according to claim 7, wherein:

said second set of peg holes includes at least three peg holes.

9. A fixation plate according to claim 7, wherein:

each of said second set of peg holes is structurally adapted to engage the threaded head of one of the fixation pegs with a threaded head and retain the fixation pegs in a fixed angle relationship with said plate.

10. A fixation plate according to claim 9, wherein:

each of said second set of peg holes is threaded.

11. A fixation plate according to claim 10, wherein:

each of said second set of peg holes defines an axis which is obliquely oriented in at least one dimension relative to the other axes of said second set of peg holes.

12. A fixation plate according to claim 11, wherein:

each of said second set of peg holes defines an axis which is obliquely oriented in two dimensions relative to the other axes of said second set of peg holes.

13. A fixation plate according to claim 1, wherein:

said buttress portion extends greater distally on an ulnar side than on a radial side.

14. A fixation plate for distal radius fractures use with a plurality of fixation pegs each having a threaded head, said fixation plate comprising:

a substantially rigid plate having a body portion and a head portion angled in a Z-direction relative to said body portion, said plate sized to accommodate the anatomy of the volar side of the distal radius bone,

said plate defining a first set of substantially linearly arranged holes extending in a generally medial-lateral direction, and a buttress portion distal of said first set of holes, said buttress portion tapering in thickness in a distal direction,

said buttress portion extends greater distally on an ulnar side than on a radial side to support the volar lip of the lunate fossa.

15. A fixation plate according to claim 14, wherein:

said buttress at least partially includes a second set of substantially linearly arranged holes, substantially parallel in arrangement to said first set.

16. A fixation plate according to claim 14, wherein:

from a proximalmost location on said buttress aligned with a radialmost hole of said first set of peg holes, said buttress has a proximal-distal depth of 2.28 mm,

from a proximalmost location of said buttress aligned with a second hole adjacent said radialmost hole of said first set of peg holes said buttress has a proximal-distal depth of approximately 2.8 mm,

from a proximalmost location of said buttress aligned with a third hole adjacent said second hole of said first set of peg holes, said buttress has a proximal-distal depth of approximately 3.56 mm, and

from a proximalmost location of said buttress aligned with an ulnarly located hole of said first set of peg holes, said buttress has a proximal-distal depth of 4.57 mm.

17. A fracture fixation plate for distal radius fractures, comprising:

a substantially rigid plate having a body portion and a head portion angled in a Z-direction relative to said body portion, said plate sized to accommodate the anatomy of the volar side of the distal radius bone, said head portion defining a first set of holes,

wherein said head portion includes a bone contacting surface having an ulnar portion which is elevated in a distal direction, and a radial side portion which is elevated in a lateral direction, each being elevated relative to a remainder of said bone contacting surface of said head portion.

18. A fracture fixation plate according to claim 17, wherein:

said first set of holes are structurally adapted to engage and retain a plurality of elements each at a fixed angle relative to said head portion.

19. A fracture fixation plate according to claim 18, wherein:

said first set of holes are threaded.

20. A fracture fixation plate according to claim 17, wherein:

said first set of holes are substantially linearly arranged.

21. A fracture fixation plate according to claim 20, wherein:

said first set of holes are substantially arranged in a medial-lateral direction.

22. A fracture fixation plate according to claim 17, wherein:

said head portion tapers toward a distal edge.

23. A fracture fixation plate according to claim 22, wherein:

said distal edge defines one of an elongate S-shape and an elongate Z-shape.

24. A method of implanting a fracture fixation plate on the volar side of the distal radius, the volar side of the radius having a boney ridge which demarcates where the slope of the bone changes from ascending, up from the diaphysis, to descending toward the articular surface of the metaphysis of the distal radius, the proximal aspect of the radial bone having an ascending slope defining a concavity, said method comprising:

a) providing a substantially rigid plate having a body portion and a head portion angled in a Z-direction relative to the body portion, said head portion defining a plurality of holes;

b) securing the plate to the volar side of the radius bone such that the head portion seats below the boney ridge and does not have any surface projecting above or beyond the boney ridge; and

c) inserting a plurality of a projections into the holes in the head portion and into the metaphysis of the distal radius.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein:

the head portion is at least partially seated in the concavity defined in the bone having an ascending slope.