FIXATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HOFFA FRACTURES

System and method for fixing a distal femur having a Hoffa fracture. The system may comprise a main plate, an outrigger plate, and a coupling member that mounts the outrigger plate to the main plate. In an exemplary method, an elongated body portion of the main plate may be secured to a shaft region of the distal femur, and a wider head portion of the main plate may be secured to an end region of the distal femur. The outrigger plate may be mounted on the head portion of the main plate, and an arm of the outrigger plate may be fastened to a condylar fragment of the femur with one or more fasteners, such that the outrigger plate spans and stabilizes the Hoffa fracture. 1. A method of fixing a distal femur having a Hoffa fracture creating a condylar fragment , the method comprising , in any order:securing a main plate having an elongated body portion and a head portion to the distal femur, wherein the elongated body portion is secured to a shaft region of the distal femur, and wherein the head portion is wider than the body portion and is secured to an end region of the distal femur;selecting an orientation for an outrigger plate from two or more orientations permitted by an interface between the main plate and the outrigger plate;mounting the outrigger plate firmly on the head portion of the main plate at the selected orientation with a coupling member; andfastening an arm of the outrigger plate to the condylar fragment with one or more fasteners such that the outrigger plate spans and stabilizes the Hoffa fracture.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the outrigger plate is substantially shorter claim 1 , narrower claim 1 , and thinner than the main plate.3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting an orientation for an outrigger plate includes a step of selecting an orientation from a finite series of discrete orientations permitted by the interface between the main plate and the outrigger plate.4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of mounting an ...

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BONE FIXATION USING A PLATE STRADDLED BY A RETAINER

Systems and methods for bone fixation using a plate straddled by a retainer. In an exemplary system, the plate may be an elongated plate configured to be disposed longitudinally on a bone. The retainer may have a body interconnecting a pair of mounting regions. The body may define a recess, and each mounting region may define a first aperture and a second aperture. The retainer may be configured to be mated with the plate to position a section of the plate in the recess such that the retainer straddles the plate. The first apertures may be configured to define through-axes that are tangential to the bone, to enable use with a line including wire and/or cable, and each second aperture may be configured to define a through-axis that extends through opposite sides of the bone while avoiding a medullary canal thereof, to enable use with a threaded fastener. 1. A system for fixing bone , comprising:an elongated plate configured to be disposed longitudinally on a bone;a retainer having a body interconnecting a pair of mounting regions, the body defining a recess, each mounting region defining a first aperture and a second aperture, the retainer being configured to be mated with the plate to position a section of the plate in the recess such that the retainer straddles the plate;a line configured to extend between the first apertures, such that the retainer and the line collectively encircle the plate and the bone, the line including wire and/or cable; anda stop member configured to be received on an end region of the line that has passed through the first aperture of one of the mounting regions, and to be crimped to firmly attach the stop member to the line, thereby preventing the end region from passing back through the first aperture of the one mounting region.2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second aperture of each mounting region has an internal thread claim 1 , and wherein the system further comprises a plurality of fasteners each having an external thread that ...

Bone fixation with a plate and a coupler connected by flexible members

Apparatus and method for fixing a bone using a plate and a coupler that are connected to one another with flexible members. The plate may be configured to be attached to a shaft region of a bone. The coupler may be configured to be disposed on an end region of the bone, and may define a bore and an aperture. The flexible members may include a first flexible member and a second flexible member, each including a wire or cable. The first flexible member may be configured to extend from the plate, through the bore, and back to the plate. The second flexible member may be configured to extend from the plate to the coupler on a path that approaches the coupler transverse to a line that is parallel to the bore. The apparatus and method may be used to stabilize the greater trochanter of a femur.

System and method for bone fixation using a plate straddled by a retainer

Systems and methods for bone fixation using a plate straddled by a retainer. In an exemplary system, the plate may be an elongated plate configured to be disposed longitudinally on a bone. The retainer may have a body interconnecting a pair of mounting regions. The body may define a recess, and each mounting region may define a first aperture and a second aperture. The retainer may be configured to be mated with the plate to position a section of the plate in the recess such that the retainer straddles the plate. The first apertures may be configured to define through-axes that are tangential to the bone, to enable use with a line including wire and/or cable, and each second aperture may be configured to define a through-axis that extends through opposite sides of the bone while avoiding a medullary canal thereof, to enable use with a threaded fastener.

System for bone fixation using a plate straddled by a retainer