Rod-based system for bone fixation

1. A method of bone fixation, comprising:

disposing a guide device such that a first portion of the guide device is disposed longitudinally in a medullary canal of a bone and such that a second portion of the guide device is disposed outside the bone and defines a transverse path across the bone and intersecting the medullary canal;

forming a transverse hole in the bone along the transverse path, the transverse hole being sized to receive a fastener;

disposing the fastener in the transverse hole;

placing a rod longitudinally in the medullary canal such that a threaded portion of the rod enters an aperture of the fastener and engages the fastener at the aperture to lock the rod to the fastener; and

removing the first portion of the guide device from the medullary canal after the step of forming a transverse hole and before the step of placing a rod.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of disposing a guide device includes a step of advancing the first portion of the guide device into the medullary canal until a stop structure of the guide device restricts further advancement of the first portion.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of measuring a radial dimension of the bone using, at least in part, the guide device.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of disposing a collar adjacent an end surface of the bone, wherein the rod includes a head, and wherein the step of placing a rod engages the collar with the head such that the bone is compressed between the collar and the fastener.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the collar includes an external thread, and wherein the step of disposing a collar creates a threaded engagement of the collar with the bone.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the guide device includes a tapered tip formed near a leading end of the first portion, and wherein the step of disposing a guide device includes a step of placing the tapered tip in the medullary canal.

7. A method of bone fixation, comprising:

disposing a guide device such that a first portion of the guide device is disposed longitudinally in a proximal region of a medullary canal of a fractured ulna and such that a second portion of the guide device is disposed outside the ulna and defines a transverse path across the ulna and intersecting the medullary canal;

forming a transverse hole in the ulna along the transverse path;

disposing a fastener with an aperture in the transverse hole; and

placing a rod longitudinally in the medullary canal such that a head of the rod engages a collar disposed adjacent a proximal end surface of the ulna and such that a portion of the rod is received in the aperture in threaded engagement with the fastener to lock the rod to the fastener, thereby applying compression to an olecranon region of the ulna,

wherein the step of forming a transverse hole is performed while the rod is completely outside the ulna,

wherein the first portion of the guide device has opposing leading and trailing ends, and wherein the step of disposing includes a step of disposing the leading end between the transverse path and a proximal end of the ulna.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of disposing a guide device includes a step of advancing the first portion of the guide device into the medullary canal until a stop structure of the guide device restricts further advancement of the first portion.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising a step of disposing the collar in threaded engagement with the ulna.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first portion of the guide device includes a tapered tip formed near a leading end of the first portion, and wherein the step of disposing a guide device includes a step of placing the tapered tip in the medullary canal.