Orthopedic connections

An orthopedic connection connecting a first orthopedic component to a second orthopedic component, the orthopedic connection comprising:

• a male-type connecting member projecting from the first orthopedic component and having a general longitudinal axis;
• and
• a female-type aperture situated in the second orthopedic component and in forcible receipt of the male-type connecting member so as to create a securing zone in which a portion of the male-type connecting member makes forcible contact with walls of the female-type aperture and maintains said forcible contact to securely connect the first orthopedic component to the second orthopedic component,
• wherein the male-type connecting member includes a distal longitudinal segment and a proximal longitudinal segment,
• wherein in a single reference plane that includes said general longitudinal axis the distal longitudinal segment extends in a linear fashion and the proximal longitudinal segment extends in a curvilinear fashion,
• wherein the distal longitudinal segment adjoins the proximal longitudinal segment at a first location along the male-type connecting member, wherein the portion of the male-type connecting member that makes forcible contact with walls of the female-type aperture and maintains said forcible contact encompasses the first location and extends distally and proximally of the first location along the male-type connecting member so that the portion includes a part of the distal longitudinal segment and a part of the proximal longitudinal segment,
• wherein the female-type aperture being in forcible receipt of the male-type connecting member includes a first non-securing zone in which the distal longitudinal segment of the male-type connecting member is present but the walls of the female-type aperture are not contacted by the distal longitudinal segment, the first non-securing zone located distally of the securing zone,
• wherein the female-type aperture being in forcible receipt of the male-type connecting member also includes a second non-securing zone in which the proximal longitudinal segment of the male-type connecting member is present but the walls of the female-type aperture are not contacted by the proximal longitudinal segment, the second non-securing zone located proximally of the securing zone, and
• wherein the part of the proximal longitudinal segment that is included in the portion of the male-type connecting member making forcible contact with walls of the female-type aperture and maintaining said forcible contact is at least partially threaded.

An orthopedic connection for connecting a first orthopedic component to a second orthopedic component, the orthopedic connection comprising:

• a male-type connecting member projecting from the first orthopedic component and having a general longitudinal axis;
• and
• a female-type aperture situated in the second orthopedic component and in forcible receipt of the male-type connecting member so as to create a securing zone in which a portion of the male-type connecting member makes forcible contact with walls of the female-type aperture and maintains said forcible contact to securely connect the first orthopedic component to the second orthopedic component,
• wherein the male-type connecting member includes a continuously threaded longitudinal segment with a distal region and a proximal region,
• wherein in a single reference plane that includes said general longitudinal axis the distal region includes a first set of successive thread peaks extending in a linear fashion and the proximal region includes a second set of successive thread peaks extending in a curvilinear fashion,
• wherein the distal region adjoins the proximal region at a first location along the continuously threaded longitudinal segment, wherein the portion of the male-type connecting member that makes forcible contact with walls of the female-type aperture and maintains said forcible contact encompasses the first location and extends distally and proximally of the first location along the continuously threaded longitudinal segment so that the portion includes a first distal group of crushed thread peaks from the first set of successive thread peaks and a first proximal group of crushed thread peaks from the second set of successive thread peaks, respectively,
• wherein the female-type aperture being in forcible receipt of the male-type connecting member includes a first non-securing zone in which a second distal group of thread peaks from the first set of successive thread peaks are present but the walls of the female-type aperture are not contacted by the second distal group of thread peaks from the first set of successive thread peaks, the first non-securing zone located distally of the securing zone,
• wherein the female-type aperture being in forcible receipt of the male-type connecting member also includes a second non-securing zone in which a second proximal group of thread peaks from the second set of successive thread peaks are present but the walls of the female-type aperture are not contacted by the second proximal group of thread peaks from the second set of successive thread peaks, the second non-securing zone located proximally of the securing zone.