Orthopaedic bone plate

Abstract

An orthopaedic bone plate is coupled to a bone having an enlarged head at one end thereof which is attached to a shaft. The bone plate includes an elongate portion, a flared portion and an intermediate portion. The elongate portion is attachable to the bone shaft using a plurality of bone screws. The elongate portion generally defines a longitudinal axis. The flared portion is attachable to the bone head using at least one bone screw. The intermediate portion interconnects the elongate portion and the flared portion. The intermediate portion is structured and arranged to allow the elongate portion and the flared portion to move relative to each other in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis when the elongate portion and the flared portion are attached to the bone.

1 - 25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . An orthopaedic bone plate attachable to a bone, the orthopaedic bone plate comprising: 
 an elongate portion attachable to a shaft of the bone;    a flared portion extending from said elongate portion, said flared portion attachable to a head of the bone, said flared portion including deflection means for allowing said flared portion to deflect toward the bone when the flared portion is attached to the bone independent of the elongate portion being attached to the bone.    
   
   
       27 . The orthopaedic bone plate of  claim 26 , wherein said flared portion extends substantially perpendicularly from said elongate portion.  
   
   
       28 . The orthopaedic bone plate of  claim 26 , wherein said deflection means further allows the flared portion to permanently deflect toward the bone when the flared portion is attached to the bone.  
   
   
       29 . The orthopaedic bone plate of  claim 26 , wherein said deflection means comprises a thickness of the flared portion.  
   
   
       30 . The orthopaedic bone plate of  claim 26 , wherein each of said elongate portion and said flared portion have a plurality of holes.  
   
   
       31 . The orthopaedic bone plate of  claim 26 , wherein said elongate portion and said flared portion each have a thickness, said thickness of said elongate portion being greater than said thickness of said flared portion.  
   
   
       32 . The orthopaedic bone plate of  claim 26 , wherein said flared portion and said elongate portion each have at least four screw holes.  
   
   
       33 . The orthopaedic bone plate of  claim 26 , wherein the head of the bone has a curved shape, said flared portion of said bone plate having a curved shape substantially corresponding to the curved shape of the head of the bone.  
   
   
       34 . An orthopaedic bone plate attachable to a bone, the orthopaedic bone plate comprising: 
 an elongate portion attachable to a shaft of the bone;    a flared portion extending from said elongate portion, said flared portion attachable to a head of the bone, said flared portion having a thickness allowing the flared portion to deflect toward the bone when the flared portion is attached to the bone, said thickness allowing the flared portion to deflect independent of the elongate portion being attached to the bone.    
   
   
       35 . The orthopaedic bone plate of  claim 34 , wherein said flared portion extends substantially perpendicularly from said elongate portion.  
   
   
       36 . The orthopaedic bone plate of  claim 34 , wherein said means for allowing further allows the flared portion to permanently deflect toward the bone when the flared portion is attached to the bone.  
   
   
       37 . The orthopaedic bone plate of  claim 34 , wherein each of said elongate portion and said flared portion have a plurality of holes.  
   
   
       38 . The orthopaedic bone plate of  claim 34 , wherein said elongate portion and said flared portion each have a thickness, said thickness of said elongate portion being greater than said thickness of said flared portion.  
   
   
       39 . The orthopaedic bone plate of  claim 34 , wherein said flared portion and said elongate portion each have at least four screw holes.  
   
   
       40 . The orthopaedic bone plate of  claim 34 , wherein the head of the bone has a curved shape, said flared portion of said bone plate having a curved shape substantially corresponding to the curved shape of the head of the bone.  
   
   
       41 . A method of attaching an orthopaedic bone plate to a bone, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an orthopaedic bone plate having an elongate portion and a flared portion;    positioning the bone plate against the bone such that the flared portion lies against a head of the bone;    attaching the flared portion to the head of the bone; and    deflecting said flared portion toward the bone during said step of attaching said flared portion to the bone, said deflecting step occurring independent of the elongate portion being attached to the bone.    
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said deflecting step comprises permanently deflecting said flared portion.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said flared portion of said orthopaedic bone plate extends substantially perpendicularly from said elongate portion of said orthopaedic bone plate.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the head of the bone has a curved shape, said flared portion of said bone plate having a curved shape substantially corresponding to the curved shape of the head of the bone, and wherein said step of deflecting said flared portion toward the bone during said step of attaching said flared portion to the bone comprises deflecting said flared portion to the bone until said flared portion substantially entirely abuts the head of the bone.