Locking plate with screw fixation from opposite cortex

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting a bone includes a plate configured for positioning on a tension side of the bone. Two or more fasteners are configured to extend from an opposite side of the bone to the plate, and engage the plate after extending through the bone. The plate has an attachment mechanism operable to engage with the fasteners. In other aspects, a method of performing a surgical procedure includes positioning a plate on a tension side of a bone, and forming a hole from an opposite side of the bone to the plate. A fastener is inserted through the hole to the plate, and the plate is adjusted into position on the bone surface on the tension side of the bone. One or more additional holes are formed from the opposite side of the bone to the plate, and one or more additional fasteners are inserted.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for supporting a bone, the apparatus comprising:
 a plate configured for positioning on a tension side of the bone;   two or more fasteners configured to extend from an opposite side of the bone to said plate and engage the plate after extending through the bone,   wherein said plate has an attachment mechanism operable to engage with said two or more fasteners extending from the opposite side of the bone.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more fasteners correspond to two or more screws having locking threads on tips thereof and configured to engage with two or more threaded openings of the attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said two or more screws are at least one of cannulated or solid core. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said two or more screws have threads for bone purchase. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the threads for bone purchase are located on a head and shank region of the two or more screws. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said plate is configured to engage only with the two or more fasteners extending from the opposite side of the bone. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plate and the two or more fasteners are at least partially formed of at least one of:
 stainless steel;   titanium; or   a dissolvable material.   
     
     
         8 . A method of performing a surgical procedure, the method comprising:
 positioning a plate on a tension side of a bone;   forming a hole from an opposite side of the bone to the plate;   inserting a fastener through the hole to the plate;   adjusting the plate into position on the bone surface on the tension side of the bone;   forming one or more additional holes from the opposite side of the bone to the plate; and   inserting one or more additional fasteners through the one or more additional holes to the plate.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plate has an attachment mechanism operable to engage with the fastener and the one or more additional fasteners extending from the opposite side of the bone. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fastener and the one or more additional fasteners correspond to a screw and one or more additional screws having locking threads on tips thereof that are configured to engage with two or more threaded openings of the attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , the screw and the one or more additional screws are at least one of cannulated or solid bore. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the screw and the one or more additional screws have threads for bone purchase. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the threads for bone purchase are located on a head and shank region of the screw and the one or more additional screws. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plate is configured to engage only with the fastener and the one or more additional fasteners extending from the opposite side of the bone. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising preparing joint surfaces of the bone. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 placing a fixation screw through the bone; and   positioning the plate on the tension side of the bone   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising employing a guide pin to aid in forming the one or more additional holes. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein forming the hole and forming the one or more additional holes includes employing a cannulated drill to drill the hole and the one or more additional holes. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising employing an additional fixation mechanism, including at least one of:
 additional fasteners not engaged with the plate; or   an additional plate.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein employing an additional plate includes employing a double plate to support the opposite side of the bone.