System for making a bone repair

Abstract

A method and system is provided for repairing bone fractures at locations where high levels of stability are required. The system employs two plates to buttress a fracture from both the dorsal and volar sides. The plates are affixed to one another using screws that are installed from a volar plate, through the bone and into a dorsal plate. The method provides for use of a directional guide that allows the precise placement of Kirschner wires for temporary fixation of the fracture, installation of a first bone fixation plate using the installed K-wires for alignment, installation of a second bone plate adjacent the bone to be repaired and opposite the first bone plate, and installation of cannulated fasteners between the two opposing bone plates such that the fasteners rigidly engage both of the bone plates.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system for fixation of bone fractures comprising:
 a first plate having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, said first plate configured to be received adjacent a first side of a fractured region in a bone;   at least one second plate member having at least one aperture formed therethrough, said at least one second plate configured to be received adjacent a second opposing side of said fractured region in a bone; and   at least one fastener having a proximal end and a distal end, extending between one of said apertures in said first plate, through said bone and engaging said at least one aperture in said second plate.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures in the first plate are locking apertures configured to engage a head at the proximal end of the fastener. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the locking apertures in the first plate are threaded apertures configured to engage corresponding threads on the head at the proximal end of the fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture in the at least one second plate is a locking aperture configured to engage the distal end of the fastener. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the locking apertures the at least one aperture in the at least one second plate is a threaded aperture configured to engage corresponding threads on the distal end of the fastener. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and at least one second plates have an inner surface that is contoured to fit the bone held therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is cannulated. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is self-drilling. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second plate is a plurality of second plates positioned adjacent the opposing side of the bone. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second plate is a single second plate positioned adjacent the opposing side of the bone and extending across said fractured region. 
     
     
         11 . The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein the first plate is configured to be secured adjacent a volar surface region of the radius bone and the at least one second plate is configured to be secured adjacent a dorsal surface region of the radius bone. 
     
     
         12 . A method for fixation of bone fractures comprising:
 positioning a first plate having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, said first plate configured to be received adjacent a first side of a fractured region in a bone;   positioning at least one second plate member having at least one aperture formed therethrough, said at least one second plate configured to be received adjacent a second opposing side of said fractured region in a bone; and   securing said first plate to said at least one second plate by installing at least one fastener having a proximal end and a distal end, between one of said apertures in said first plate, through said bone and into engagement with said at least one aperture in said second plate.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 installing a Kirschner wire into said bone, said Kirchner wire having a first end extending from one side of said bone and a second end extending from an opposing side of said bone;   positioning said first plate by aligning one of said plurality of apertures in said first plate about said first end of said Kirschner wire; and   positioning said at least one second plate by aligning said at least one aperture about said second end of said Kirschner wire.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one fastener is cannulated, said fastener being installed between said first and at least second plates directly over said Kirschner wire. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the fastener is self-drilling. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 installing a guide device, said guide device having a guide element in alignment with a first aperture in said first plate adjacent a first side of said bone and a second guide element in alignment with a second position on an opposing side of said bone;   using said guide device to install a Kirschner wire having a first end extending from said first aperture and a second end extending from said second position on said opposing side of said bone;   positioning said at least one second plate by aligning said at least one aperture about said second end of said Kirschner wire; and   securing said first plate to said at least one second plate by installing at least one fastener having a proximal end and a distal end and a cannulated passage extending therebetween, wherein said cannulated passage is installed over said Kirschner wire, said fastener being directed by said Kirschner wire between said first aperture in said first plate, through said bone and into engagement with said at least one aperture in said second plate.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the fastener is self-drilling. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 installing a guide device, said guide device having a guide element in alignment with a first aperture in said first plate adjacent a first side of said bone and a second guide element in alignment with a said at least one aperture in said second plate;   using said guide device to install a Kirschner wire having a first end extending from said first aperture and a second end extending from said at least one aperture in said second plate; and   securing said first plate to said at least one second plate by installing at least one fastener having a proximal end and a distal end and a cannulated passage extending therebetween, wherein said cannulated passage is installed over said Kirschner wire, said fastener being directed by said Kirschner wire between said first aperture in said first plate, through said bone and into engagement with said at least one aperture in said second plate.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the fastener is self-drilling.