Orthopedic compression plate

1. A plate and screw system which is capable of fixation of bone comprising a plate and a locking screw and a compression screw, the compression screw having a convexly rounded head having a diameter, the plate having a top surface opposing a bone facing surface in the z direction, and extending along a first length along a longitudinal axis and having a first end and a second end, and the plate including a compression screw housing which extends through the plate to form a pocket extending from the bone facing surface of the plate and defining a compression screw hole extending along a compression screw hole axis to define a compression screw angle of from 10° to 70° in the Z direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the plate and the compression screw housing including a ovoid opening in the top surface of the plate which opens to the pocket which has rear and side walls extending from the bone facing surface of the plate and away from the top surface of the plate and which define inside surfaces of the pocket and the inside surfaces of the pocket defining the ovoid opening at the plate top surface which opens into the pocket at an angle to form a groove that accommodates and guides the screw and a mating screw driver as the screw is screwed into a bone, the pocket having a bottom opening on the bottom of the plate, and that is smaller than the diameter of the compression screw head, the inside surfaces of the pocket being of a sufficient size to accommodate the entire screw head whereby the compression screw is captured in the pocket and can be positioned at a variable angle relative to the compression screw hole axis and the screw head does not project beyond the top surface of the plate, and the second end of the plate further includes a chamfer for insertion into bone.

2. The plate and screw system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the compression screw angle is from 20° to 60° relative to the longitudinal axis in the z direction.

3. The plate and screw system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the second end of the plate defines a tab and the plates defines an outline consisting essentially of the first end and the second end.

4. The plate and screw system as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the first end defines a second tab which is longitudinally aligned with the second end so as to provide for bilateral mirror symmetry about the longitudinal axis.

5. The plate and a screw system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first end has two tabs which include locking holes.

6. The plate and a screw system as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the first end has three tabs which each include a locking hole, and the second end has two holes which each include a locking hole, and the compression screw housing is located intermediate the first end and the second end.

7. The plate and a screw system as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the first end has three tabs which each include a locking hole and the second end has three tabs which each include a locking hole and the second end further includes a fourth tab which includes the compression hole.

8. The plate and screw system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the plate is a MTP plate.

9. The plate and a screw system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first end of the plate includes a set of two tabs which exhibit bilateral mirror symmetry about the longitudinal axis of the plate and each of the two tabs includes a locking hole.

10. The plate and a screw system as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the plate top surface is planar.

11. The plate and a screw system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the plate bone facing surface includes a curve in the z direction.

12. A method of fusing bones, comprising:

surgically accessing a bone,

selecting a plate and screw system comprising a plate and a locking screw and a compression screw, the compression screw having a convexly rounded head having a diameter, the plate having a top surface opposing a bone facing surface in the z direction, and extending along a first length along a longitudinal axis and having a first end and a second end, and the plate including a compression screw housing which extends through the plate to form a pocket extending from the bone facing surface of the plate and defining a compression screw hole extending along a compression screw hole axis to define a compression screw angle of from 10° to 70° in the Z direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the plate and the compression screw housing including a ovoid opening in the top surface of the plate which opens to the pocket which has rear and side walls extending from the bone facing surface of the plate and away from the top surface of the plate and which define inside surfaces of the pocket and the inside surfaces of the pocket defining the ovoid opening at the plate top surface which opens into the pocket at an angle to form a groove that accommodates and guides the screw and a mating screw driver as the screw is screwed into a bone, the pocket having a bottom opening on the bottom of the plate, and that is smaller than the diameter of the compression screw head, the inside surfaces of the pocket being of a sufficient size to accommodate the entire screw head whereby the compression screw is captured in the pocket and can be positioned at a variable angle relative to the compression screw hole axis and the screw head does not project beyond the top surface of the plate, and the second end of the plate further includes a chamfer for insertion into bone,

fixing a locking screw in the locking hole such that the external threads of the locking screw head mate with the internal threads of the locking screw hole;

fixing a compression screw in the compression housing to cause compression in the associated bone toward the locking hole.

13. The method of fusing bone as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the method involves a surgical procedure which is a bunionectomy.

14. The plate and screw system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the pocket has a bottom opening on the bottom of the plate, and through which the compression screw extends and the pocket and the bottom opening being configured to allow the compression screw to achieve conical rotation with respect to the compression screw axis.

15. A plate and screw system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the plate includes a compression housing which extends through the plate to form a pocket of a sufficient size to accommodate the entire compression screw head.

16. The orthopedic plate and screw as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the plate exhibits bilateral symmetry about the longitudinal axis.

17. The orthopedic plate as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the locking screw is capable of variable angle relative to the axis of the screw hole.