Methods and devices for bone fragment fixation
A method for fixating a bone fragment may include delivering a first device into a first bone such that a first portion of the first device is fixed in the first bone and a second portion of the first device extends outward from the first bone; cutting the first bone to generate the bone fragment, wherein the first portion of the first device is fixed in the bone fragment; and placing an apparatus on an exterior surface of the bone fragment, the apparatus having two or more fixation holes, at least one of which includes a slot. The method may include positioning the second portion through the slot; securing the apparatus onto the exterior surface of the bone fragment by delivering a first fixation device into the bone fragment through a second fixation hole; and removing the first device from the first bone.
1 . A method for fixating a bone fragment, the method comprising:
delivering a first device into a first bone;
cutting the first bone to generate the bone fragment such that a first portion of the first device is fixed in the bone fragment and a second portion of the first device extends outward from the bone fragment;
placing an apparatus on an exterior surface of the bone fragment such that the first device is free from engagement with the apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises two or more fixation holes, and wherein at least a first fixation hole of the two or more fixation holes comprises a slot;
engaging the first device with the apparatus by moving the second portion of the first device around a portion of an outer perimeter of the apparatus, through the slot, and into the first fixation hole such that the second portion of the first device extends outward from the first fixation hole;
securing the apparatus onto the exterior surface of the bone fragment by delivering a first fixation device into the bone fragment through a second fixation hole of the two or more fixation holes; and
removing the first device from the first bone.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first device comprises a Kirschner wire.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
after removing the first device from the first bone, delivering a second fixation device into the bone fragment through the first fixation hole.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the second fixation device comprises a screw.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a planar plate.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the apparatus further comprises an extension configured to be delivered intramedullary to the first bone.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the slot is disposed on an outer-most end of the apparatus.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the slot is disposed on a side of the apparatus.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein removing the first device from the first bone is performed after delivering the first fixation device into the bone fragment.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein cutting the first bone to generate the bone fragment is performed after delivering the first device into the first bone.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein placing the apparatus on the exterior surface of the bone fragment comprises placing a proximal-most end of the apparatus on the exterior surface of the bone fragment, and wherein the two or more fixation holes are disposed on the proximal-most end of the apparatus.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein placing the apparatus on the exterior surface of the bone fragment such that the first device is free from engagement with the apparatus comprises placing the apparatus on the exterior surface of the bone fragment such that the first device is disposed outside of the two or more fixation holes.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first fixation device is delivered into the bone fragment through the second fixation hole such that the first fixation device is fixed in the bone fragment approximately parallel to the first portion of the first device.
14 . A method for fixating a bone fragment, the method comprising:
delivering a first device into a first bone;
cutting the first bone to generate the bone fragment such that a first portion of the first device is fixed in the bone fragment and a second portion and a third portion of the first device extend outward from the bone fragment;
placing an apparatus on an exterior surface of the bone fragment such that the first device is free from engagement with the apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises one or more fixation holes, and wherein at least a first fixation hole of the one or more fixation holes comprises a slot;
engaging the first device with the apparatus by moving the second and third portions of the first device around a portion of an outer perimeter of the apparatus, through the slot, and into the first fixation hole such that the second and third portions of the first device extend outward from the first fixation hole; and
after positioning the second and third portions of the first device through the slot of the first fixation hole, inserting the third portion of the first device into the first bone thereby securing the apparatus on the exterior surface of the bone fragment.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein:
the first portion of the first device comprises a first section of a snap-off screw,
the second portion of the first device comprises a stem of the snap-off screw, and
the third portion of the first device comprises a second section of the snap-off screw.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the one or more fixation holes comprise two or more fixation holes, and the method further comprising:
delivering a fixation device into the bone fragment through a second fixation hole of the two or more fixation holes.