Bone plates with intraoperatively tapped apertures
Method of tapping a bone plate intraoperatively. A bone plate having an aperture may be selected, and the bone plate may be placed on a bone. A thread may be formed in the aperture using a tap device with the bone plate disposed on the bone. A hole may be formed in the bone, with the hole in alignment with the aperture. The hole may be widened adjacent the aperture to create a counterbore in the bone. A fastener may be advanced into threaded engagement with the thread after removal of the tap device from the aperture.
1. A method of tapping a bone plate intraoperatively, comprising:
selecting a bone plate having an aperture;
placing the bone plate on a bone;
forming a thread in the aperture using a tap device with the bone plate disposed on the bone;
forming a hole in the bone, the hole being in alignment with the aperture;
widening the hole adjacent the aperture to create a counterbore in the bone; and
advancing a fastener into threaded engagement with the thread after removal of the tap device from the aperture.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of placing includes a step of attaching the bone plate to the bone.
3. The method of claim 2 , the aperture being a first aperture, wherein the step of attaching includes a step of inserting a fastener through a second aperture and into the bone.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of forming a hole also forms a thread in the bone.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of forming a hole is performed at least substantially before the step of forming a thread.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of forming a thread is performed with a tap device having a tap portion and a tip portion, and wherein the step of forming a thread includes a step of inserting the tip portion into the hole so that the tap portion is guided to the aperture.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of selecting an angle for the step of forming a thread.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of selecting an angle includes a step of disposing a guide device at least substantially at the angle.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of forming a hole in the bone includes a step of forming a hole at least substantially at the angle.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting a bone plate includes selecting a bone plate formed at least substantially of metal.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of selecting a bone plate includes selecting a bone plate formed at least substantially of titanium.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of forming a thread includes a step of cutting the thread.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the counterbore is defined in the bone by a wall, and wherein the step of advancing includes a step of disposing the fastener in threaded engagement with the wall.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the fastener has a head with a threaded region, and wherein the step of advancing a fastener includes a step of advancing the threaded region into threaded engagement with the thread in the aperture and with the wall.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of widening the hole includes a step of creating a counterbore having a thread for engagement with the fastener.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of advancing a fastener includes a step of tapping the counterbore.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bone plate has a thickness, and wherein the step of advancing is performed with a fastener having a head that is longer than the thickness of the bone plate.
18. The method claim 1 , wherein the step of widening is performed at least partially during the step of forming a thread.