Modular fracture fixation plate system with multiple metaphyseal and diaphyseal plates

1. A fracture fixation plate system for use on a long bone having a metaphysis and a diaphysis, comprising:

a) at least one end plate having a head portion for the metaphysis defining a plurality of fixation holes for receiving fixation elements that extend into the bone a slot and an unthreaded set screw hole intersecting said slot;

b) at least one fragment plate having a first end and a second end with a plurality of bone screw holes therebetween, and a threaded set screw hole, said fragment plate having an end dimensioned to fit into said slot such that said threaded screw hole is aligned with said unthreaded hole; and

c) a set screw having a head and a threaded shaft, said head seating in said unthreaded set screw hole and said shaft threaded into said threaded set screw hole so that said set screw securely longitudinally retains said end plate and fragment plates together in tension, independently of the bone.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein:

said at least one end plate is a plurality of plates having head portions of different sizes,

said at least one fragment plate is a plurality of different length fragment plates,

said end plates and said fragment plates adapted to be mixed and matched and coupled to each other.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein:

said fixation holes are threaded to receive fixation elements which lock relative to said head portions of said at least one end plate.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein:

said end plate includes a stem angled relative to said head portion, and said mating structure is integrated into said stem.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein:

said unthreaded hole is orthogonal relative to said slot.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein:

said end plate includes a plurality of alignment holes adapted to closely receive K-wires in a substantially fixed angle relationship.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein:

said fragment plate has a longitudinal axis and is longitudinally symmetrical about the midpoint of the longitudinal axis.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein:

said bone screw holes of said fragment plate are non-threaded bone screw holes, and

said fragment plate has a plurality of second threaded set screw holes corresponding in number to said plurality of said bone screw holes, each second set screw hole being adjacent a respective bone screw hole.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein:

said fragment plate includes a longitudinal midpoint, and for each bone screw hole, each said second set screw hole is provided on a side of the bone screw hole closer to an end of the fragment plate than the midpoint.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein:

said at least one end of said fragment plate is tapered to fit said mating structure.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein:

the head portion is sized and shaped for the distal volar radius bone.

12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein:

said fragment plate is curved along its longitudinal axis.

13. The system according to claim 1 , wherein:

said fragment plate is curved along its longitudinal axis to match the radius of curvature of the volar side of the radius bone.

14. The system according to claim 1 , wherein:

said end plate and said fragment plate are securely longitudinally retainable relative to each other independently of any compression fastener which couples at least one of said end plate and said fragment plate to the bone.