Bone stabilization systems

Abstract

Bone plates for engaging bone members are described herein. The bone plates can receive one or more screws to secure the bone plates to an underlying bone member. The one or more screws can be inserted into bone plate holes that can be considered locking or non-locking. The bone plates described herein can have particular combinations of locking and/or non-locking holes. In addition, instruments such as distal and proximal aiming guides can accompany the bone plates to guide one or more screws into the bone plates.

1 . An apparatus for treating a fracture in a bone, comprising:
 a first rectangular panel comprising a first side, a second side, a third side opposite the first side, and a fourth side opposite the second side, wherein the first and third sides comprise a length that is greater than the length of the second and fourth sides;   a second rectangular panel comprising dimensions substantially similar to the first rectangular panel;   one or more first metallic wires selectively positioned in between the first rectangular panel and the second rectangular panel, wherein the first metallic wires are selectively positioned to correspond to anatomic axis lines of a human skeleton; and   wherein the first rectangular panel and the second rectangular panel are operatively connected to one another, and wherein the first rectangular panel and the second rectangular panel comprise a radiolucent material.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of second metallic wires selectively positioned in between the first rectangular panel and the second rectangular panel, wherein the second metallic wires are selectively positioned to correspond to mechanical axis lines. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of third metallic wires selectively positioned in between the first rectangular panel and the second rectangular panel, wherein the third metallic wires are selectively positioned to correspond to a ruler. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the position of the one or more first metallic wires can be compared to an image of a bone shown on a fluoroscopic image. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first metallic wires corresponding to anatomic axes of a human skeleton are visible on a fluoroscopic image. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first rectangular panel further comprises an inner surface that is operatively connected to the second rectangular panel, wherein radiopaque ink is positioned on the inner surface. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second metallic wires are positioned relative to one another to correspond to one of the medial neck shaft angle (MNSA); the anterior medial proximal angle (aMPFA); the joint line congruency angle (JLCA); the medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA); the mechanical lateral proximal femoral angle (mLPFA); the mechanical lateral proximal femoral angle (mLPFA); the mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA); the anatomic lateral distal femoral angle (aLDFA); and the lateral distal tibial angle (LDTA). 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first rectangular panel, second rectangular panel, and one or more first metallic wires comprise a frontal plane guide. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first rectangular panel, second rectangular panel, and one or more first metallic wires comprise a sagittal plane guide. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for treating a fracture in a bone, comprising:
 a first rectangular panel comprising a first side, a second side, a third side opposite the first side, and a fourth side opposite the second side, wherein the first and third sides comprise a length that is greater than the length of the second and fourth sides;   a second rectangular panel comprising dimensions substantially similar to the first rectangular panel;   one or more first lines of radiopaque ink selectively positioned in between the first rectangular panel and the second rectangular panel, wherein the radiopaque ink is selectively positioned to correspond to anatomic axis lines of a human skeleton; and   wherein the first rectangular panel and the second rectangular panel are operatively connected to one another, and wherein the first rectangular panel and the second rectangular panel comprise a radiolucent material.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more second lines of radiopaque ink selectively positioned in between the first rectangular panel and the second rectangular panel to correspond to mechanical axis lines. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more third lines of radiopaque ink selectively positioned in between the first rectangular panel and the second rectangular panel to correspond to a ruler. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the position of the one or more first lines of radiopaque ink can be compared to an image of a bone shown on a fluoroscopic image. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more first lines of radiopaque ink corresponding to anatomic axes of a human skeleton are visible on a fluoroscopic image. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first rectangular panel and the second rectangular panel comprise perforations. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more reference indicators that indicates the proper orientation of the first and second rectangular panels. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second lines of radiopaque ink are positioned relative to one another to correspond to one of the medial neck shaft angle (MNSA); the anterior medial proximal angle (aMPFA); the joint line congruency angle (JLCA); the medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA); the mechanical lateral proximal femoral angle (mLPFA); the mechanical lateral proximal femoral angle (mLPFA); the mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA); the anatomic lateral distal femoral angle (aLDFA); and the lateral distal tibial angle (LDTA). 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first rectangular panel, second rectangular panel, and one or more first lines of radiopaque ink comprise a frontal plane guide. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first rectangular panel, second rectangular panel, and one or more first lines of radiopaque ink comprise a sagittal plane guide. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second lines of radiopaque ink are positioned relative to one another to correspond to one of the anterior neck shaft angle (ANSA); the anterior distal tibial angle (ADTA); the posterior proximal femoral angle (PPFA); the posterior distal femoral angle (PDFA); and the posterior proximal tibia angle (PPTA). 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more first lines of radiopaque ink are formed as a part of the first rectangular panel.