Intramedullary rod plate system

Abstract

A system to stabilize a fracture includes an intramedullary rod having a first end and a second end and configured for placement within a medullary bone canal of a bone. The intramedullary rod includes a first rod hole at the second end. The system includes an intramedullary rod plate having a first plate hole and a second plate hole. A first fastener includes a shaft portion and a head portion. The shaft portion of the first fastener passes through the first plate hole, through an outer surface of the bone, and through the first rod hole at the second end of the intramedullary rod such that the first fastener secures the intramedullary rod plate to the intramedullary rod. The system also includes a second fastener configured to pass through the second plate hole and into the bone such that the second fastener secures the intramedullary rod plate to the bone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system to stabilize a fracture, the system comprising:
 an intramedullary rod having a first end and a second end and configured for placement within a medullary bone canal of a bone, wherein the intramedullary rod includes a first rod hole at the second end;   an intramedullary rod plate having a first plate hole and a second plate hole;   a first fastener that includes a shaft portion and a head portion, wherein the shaft portion of the first fastener passes through the first plate hole, through an outer surface of the bone, and through the first rod hole at the second end of the intramedullary rod such that the first fastener secures the intramedullary rod plate to the intramedullary rod; and   a second fastener configured to pass through the second plate hole and into the bone such that the second fastener secures the intramedullary rod plate to the bone.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a chamfer on an outer surface of the intramedullary rod plate, wherein the chamfer surrounds the first plate hole. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the head portion of the first fastener is configured to mate with the chamfer. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the chamfer is threaded and configured to mate with threads on the head portion of the first fastener. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the head portion of the first fastener comprises a threaded head portion, and wherein the threaded head portion of the first fastener mates with threads in the first plate hole. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a contour on an inner surface of the intramedullary rod plate, wherein the contour is configured to mate with an outer surface of the bone. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first plate hole is located in a center of the intramedullary rod plate. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first plate hole is located eccentrically in the intramedullary rod plate. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third plate hole configured to receive a third fastener, a fourth plate hole configured to receive a fourth fastener, and a fifth plate hole configured to receive a fifth fastener, wherein the third fastener, the fourth fastener, and the fifth fastener are configured to pass through the outer surface of the bone to secure the intramedullary rod plate to the bone. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the second plate hole, the third plate hole, the fourth plate hole, and the fifth plate hole at least partially surround the first plate hole. 
     
     
         11 . A system to stabilize a fracture, the system comprising:
 an intramedullary rod plate that is configured to attach to an intramedullary rod that is positioned within a medullary bone canal of a bone, wherein the intramedullary rod plate has a first plate hole and a second plate hole;   a first fastener that includes a shaft portion and a head portion, wherein the shaft portion of the first fastener passes through the first plate hole, through an outer surface of the bone, and through an opening in the intramedullary rod such that the first fastener secures the intramedullary rod plate to the intramedullary rod; and   a second fastener configured to pass through the second plate hole and into the bone such that the second fastener secures the intramedullary rod plate to the bone.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a contour on an inner surface of the intramedullary rod plate, wherein the contour is configured to mate with an outer surface of the bone. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first plate hole is located eccentrically in the intramedullary rod plate. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a chamfer on an outer surface of the intramedullary rod plate, wherein the chamfer surrounds the first plate hole. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the head portion of the first fastener is configured to mate with the chamfer. 
     
     
         16 . A method of stabilizing a fracture, the method comprising:
 placing an intramedullary rod having a first end and a second end into a medullary bone canal of a bone, wherein the intramedullary rod includes a first rod hole at the second end;   placing an intramedullary rod plate proximate to the second end of the intramedullary rod, wherein the intramedullary rod plate includes a first plate hole and a second plate hole;   placing a first fastener such that a shaft portion of the first fastener passes through the first plate hole, through an outer surface of the bone, and through the first rod hole at the second end of the intramedullary rod to secure the intramedullary rod plate to the intramedullary rod; and   placing a second fastener through the second plate hole and into the bone to secure the intramedullary rod plate to the bone.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising placing the first fastener such that the threaded head portion mates with a chamfer that surrounds the first plate hole. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the shaft portion of the first fastener is threaded, and wherein placing the first fastener comprises mating threads of the shaft portion with threads in the first rod hole. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein placing the intramedullary rod plate comprises mating a contour on an inner surface of the intramedullary rod plate with an outer surface of the bone. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising placing a third fastener through a third plate hole of the intramedullary rod plate, placing a fourth fastener through a fourth plate hole of the intramedullary rod plate, and placing a fifth fastener through a fifth plate hole of the intramedullary rod plate, wherein the third fastener, the fourth fastener, and the fifth fastener are configured to pass through the outer surface of the bone to secure the intramedullary rod plate to the bone.