Method of dorsal wrist fracture fixation

• US 6,508,819 B1
• Filed: 08/28/2001
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Biomet Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Innovations LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Orbay, Jorge L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Priddy, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US09/941,119
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 606/60, 606/69-73, 623/21.12
• US Class Current: 606/281
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• 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 17/842 Flexible wires, bands or straps A61B17/72, A61B17/82, A61B17/86 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8605 Heads, i.e. proximal ends projecting from bone
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/902 Cortical plate specifically adapted for a particular bone

Abstract

A dorsal fracture is treated from the volar side by using a T-shaped plate opposite the fracture. The plate is positioned against the volar side of the radial bone, a plurality of bone screws secure the plate along a non-fractured portion of the radial bone, and a plurality of bone pegs extend from the plate and into the bone fragments of the fracture. A support portion of the plate is provided distal of the bone pegs and supports comminuted bone fragments. One or more channels are optionally provided in the plate to receive wires which are adapted to anchor distal bone fragments to the plate. The plate is adapted in strength and materials to withstand the large bending forces thereon.

Claims

1. A method of stabilizing a dorsal wrist fracture, comprising:

a) retracting tissue from a volar side of a radius bone; and

b) attaching a stabilizing plate to the volar side of the radius bone substantially opposite the dorsal wrist fracture.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the plate includes screw holes and said attaching step includes providing screws through the screw holes and into the radius bone.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

c) inserting a plurality of pegs through threaded peg holes in a distal head portion of the plate and into a comminuted portion of the dorsal wrist fracture, the pegs being threadably secured in the peg holes.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising:

d) coupling a wire to both a distal fragment of the dorsal wrist fracture and the stabilizing plate.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising:

e) tensioning the wire.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

c) coupling a wire to a distal fragment of the dorsal wrist fracture and to the stabilizing plate.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the stabilizing plate includes a plurality of distal tines, said method further comprising,

bending the tines in a manner to support a distal fragment of the dorsal wrist fracture.

8. A method of stabilizing a dorsal wrist fracture, comprising:

a) providing a plate having an elongate body portion and a head portion transverse to the body portion, the body portion including a plurality of screw holes and the head portion including a plurality of threaded peg holes;

b) screwing a screw through one of the screw holes to attach the plate to a volar side of a radius bone substantially opposite the dorsal wrist fracture; and

c) providing pegs through the plurality of peg holes and into at least one fragment of the fracture.

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

d) prior to providing the pegs, drilling holes into the at least one fragment for the pegs.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein:

the peg holes have axes which are oblique relative to each other, and the pegs extend along respective axes of the peg holes.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein:

the peg holes have centers which are aligned.

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

d) supporting one or more bone fragments with a buttress portion provided distal of the peg holes.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

e) stabilizing a distal bone fragment distal of the buttress portion.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein:

said stabilizing includes coupling a wire to both the distal bone fragment and the plate.