Orthopaedic attachment device

An orthopaedic attachment device adapted to be configured in an inoperative position or a locked position, said device comprising:

• two clamps (2a,2b) mounted adjacent each other with a resilient means (14) located between the two clamps, said clamps each comprising a through-hole (6) and held adjacent each other by a clamping rod (3) located in the through-holes and extending along a median axis (X,X′);
• each of said two clamps comprising a body including an outer jaw (4b) and an inner jaw (4a) connected together by a joining wall (5), each of said two clamps defining an opening (7) adapted to receiving an associated bar or pin (16,17,18), said opening extending inwardly to the joining wall (5) through a passage (8) located between the inner and outer jaws such that a hinge region (8′) is defined;
• the respective inner jaws (4a) of the two clamps (2a,2b) comprising respective external surfaces (40) oriented toward each other, said external surfaces (40) comprising cooperating shapes (12) that interlock when the external surfaces (4) are abutted and engaged with each other in said locked position;
• wherein said respective external surfaces (40) of said two clamps on which the cooperating shapes (12) are located are angled relative to each other and each form an acute angle relative to said median axis (X,X′) when the orthopaedic device is in the inoperative position such that the external surfaces including said cooperating shapes diverge relative to each other as they extend outwardly away from said clamping rod and such that each external surface (40) that includes said cooperating shapes defines an acute angle between itself and the median axis (X,X′);
• wherein the form-fitting cooperating shapes (12) of the respective external surfaces (40):
• (i) are disengaged from each other and diverge with respect to each other to allow rotation of said two clamps relative to each other about said clamping rod (3) when said device is in said inoperative position;
• and, (ii) are abutted and interlocked with each other to prevent relative rotation between of said two clamps about said clamping rod (3) when said device is in said locked position.