Volar fixation system including guide

Abstract

A volar fixation system includes a plate intended to be positioned against the volar side of the radial bone. The plate includes threaded holes for receiving fasteners which lock relative to the plate.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method, comprising:
 positioning a first surface of a body portion of a bone plate on a first bone portion, wherein the body portion has a first plurality of fastener holes disposed therein;   inserting a fastener through one of the first plurality of fastener holes and into the first bone portion;   aligning a second bone portion with the first bone portion such that at least a portion of a first surface of a head portion of the bone plate is in contact with the second bone portion;   positioning at least a portion of a guide plate on top of the head portion of the bone plate, wherein the head portion comprises a second surface opposite the first surface and a second plurality of fastener holes disposed therein, each of the second plurality of fastener holes defining a fastener hole longitudinal axis extending between the first and second surfaces, wherein at least two of the fastener hole longitudinal axes are oblique relative to each other, and wherein the guide plate has a plurality of guide holes disposed therein, and wherein each guide hole of the plurality of guide holes has a longitudinal axis coincident with a corresponding one of the fastener hole longitudinal axes of the second plurality of fastener holes;   aligning each of the plurality of guide holes disposed in the guide plate with a corresponding one of the second plurality of fastener holes of the head portion of the bone plate to define a corresponding guide path; and   drilling a fastener hole into the second bone portion via a selected guide path.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising removing the guide plate and inserting a fastener into one of second plurality of fastener holes of the head portion of the bone plate and into an underlying fastener hole. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising inserting a fastener into one of the second plurality of fastener holes of the head portion of the bone plate and into an underlying fastener hole. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising drilling a plurality of fastener holes into the second bone portion, each fastener hole corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of guide paths. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising inserting a fastener into one of the second plurality of fastener holes and into an underlying fastener hole. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising inserting a fastener through each one of the first plurality of fastener holes and into the first bone portion. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the body portion has at least three first fastener holes disposed therein, and further comprising inserting a fastener through each of the at least three first fastener holes and into the first bone portion. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the longitudinal axes of at least two of the second plurality of fastener holes are oblique relative to each other in two dimensions. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the head portion comprises at least three second fastener holes. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at  1 east three of the longitudinal axes of the at  1 east three second fastener holes are oblique relative to each other. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the three longitudinal axes of the at least three second fastener holes are oblique relative to each other in two dimensions. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein aligning the second bone portion with the first bone portion further comprises reducing a fracture. 
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 positioning a first surface of a body portion of a bone plate on a first bone portion, wherein the body portion has at least three first fastener holes disposed therein;   inserting a fastener through one of the at least three first fastener holes and into the first bone portion;   aligning a second bone portion with the first bone portion such that at least a portion of a first surface of a head portion of the bone plate is in contact with the second bone portion;   positioning at least a portion of a guide plate on top of the head portion of the bone plate, wherein the head portion comprises a second surface opposite the first surface and a plurality of second fastener holes disposed therein, each of the plurality of second fastener holes defining a fastener hole longitudinal axis extending between the first and second surfaces, wherein at least two of the fastener hole longitudinal axes are oblique relative to each other in two dimensions, and wherein the guide plate has a plurality of guide holes disposed therein, and wherein each guide hole of the plurality of de holes has a longitudinal axis coincident with a corresponding one of the fastener hole longitudinal axes of the plurality of second fastener holes;   aligning each of the plurality of guide holes disposed in the guide plate with a corresponding one of the plurality of second fastener holes of the head portion of the bone plate to define a corresponding guide path; and   drilling a fastener hole into the second bone portion via a selected guide path.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising removing the guide plate and inserting a fastener into one of the plurality of second fastener holes of the head portion and into an underlying fastener hole. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising inserting a fastener into one of the plurality of second fastener holes of the head portion of the bone plate and into an underlying fastener hole. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising drilling a plurality of fastener holes into the second bone portion, each fastener hole corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of guide paths. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising inserting a fastener into one of the plurality of second fastener holes and into an underlying fastener hole. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the head portion comprises at least three second fastener holes. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the longitudinal axes of the at least three second fastener holes are oblique relative to each other. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the longitudinal axes of the at least three second fastener holes are oblique relative to each other in two dimensions.