Method of Bone Plate Reshaping

Abstract

Methods of bone plate reshaping are provided which include bending tools that couple relative to the bone plate to bend the plate and apply a sufficient force to the plate to remove portions of the plate. Such system permit bending without necessitating that the bending tools are in direct contact with the holes in the plate, which could deform the holes. In addition, such tools can be used while the plate is positioned on the bone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of removing a first portion of a bone plate from a second portion of the bone plate, the bone plate for stabilizing a fracture of a bone, the method comprising:
 a) providing a bone plating system including a bone plate having the first and second plate portions with displaced first and second threaded holes and first and second tubular elements removably threadedly engaged in the respective first and second threaded holes;   b) engaging first and second plate bending tools relative to at least one of the tubular elements and the plate about the tubular elements; and   c) applying a force between the first and second plate bending tools to bend the plate between the first and second threaded holes until the first plate portion breaks from the second plate portion.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the engaging the first and second plate bending tools is carried out while the bone plate is positioned on the bone. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate includes alternating anchor portions and narrower bridge portions bridging the anchor portions, the threaded holes are located in each of at least two longitudinally displaced anchor portions, and the applied force of the first and second plate bending tools bends the plate between two anchor portions. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first plate bending tool is adapted to engage the first tubular element. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the plate has an upper surface, a lower bone contacting surface, and opposite sides extending between the upper and lower surfaces, and wherein each tubular guide has a fixed central axis coaxial with its respective threaded hole which is displaced between the opposite sides, and the first plate bending tool is adapted to engage the bone plate on the opposite sides. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the second plate bending tool is adapted to engage the plate on opposite sides of the central axis of the second threaded hole. 
     
     
         7 . A method of removing a portion of a bone plate, the bone plate for stabilizing a fracture of a bone and having at least two anchor portions and a narrower bridge portion bridging the anchor portions, each of the at least two anchor portions provided with a threaded hole, the method comprising:
 a) coupling a first plate bender about a first anchor portion;   b) coupling a second plate bender about a second anchor portion; and   c) applying a force relative to the first and second plate benders to bend the plate between the first and second anchor portions to break the plate between the first and second anchor portions.   
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the first plate bender is not in direct contact with an interior of the threaded hole of the first anchor portion. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the second plate is not in direct contact with an interior of the threaded hole of the second anchor portion. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the bone plate is provided with tubular guides threadedly engaged to the threaded holes of the first and second anchor portions, and the first and second plate benders apply a force to the respective tubular guides. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the plate is positioned on the bone while applying the force. 
     
     
         12 . A method of removing a portion of a bone plate, the bone plate for stabilizing a fracture of a bone, the bone plate having first and second portions, each of the first and second portions having threaded screw holes, the plate having a lower bone contacting surface and an opposite upper surface, the method comprising:
 a) coupling a first plate bender to the first portion of the plate, the first plate bender extending upwards from the upper surface of the plate at the first portion of the plate, not below the lower surface of the plate at the first portion, and not in direct contact with an interior of the threaded screw hole of the first portion of the plate;   b) using the first plate bender to apply a force between the first and second portions to bend the plate between the first and second portions until the first portion breaks off from the second portion.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 coupling a second plate bender relative to the second portion of the plate, and the first plate bender is moved relative to the second plate bender to apply the force.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the first and second portions of the bone plate are each anchor portions and a narrower bridge portion is provided bridging the anchor portions. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the first portion of the bone plate is an anchor portion and a narrower bridge portion bridging the anchor portion with the second portion of the plate. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the second plate bender extends upwards from the upper surface of the plate at the second portion, not below the lower surface of the plate at the second portion, and not in direct contact with an interior of the threaded screw hole of the second portion of the plate. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the first plate bender is coupled coaxially with the thread axis of the threaded hole in the first plate portion. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the bone plate is provided with tubular guides attached at the threaded holes, and the first bender applies a force to the tubular guide. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the bone plate is provided with tubular guides attached at the threaded holes, and the first and second plate benders apply a force between the tubular guides. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the bone plate is positioned on the bone while applying the force.