Tension band systems and methods

A bone fixation assembly comprising:

• an elongate fixation member comprising:
• a longitudinal passageway formed through the elongate fixation member;
• a proximal portion configured to translatably couple within a first bone fragment of a bone;
• and
• a distal portion configured to couple within a second bone fragment of the bone to provide fixation of the second bone fragment relative to the first bone fragment;
• a first cortical fixation element configured to engage a first cortical surface on the first bone fragment adjacent the proximal portion of the elongate fixation member;
• a second cortical fixation element configured to engage a second cortical surface on the second bone fragment adjacent the distal portion of the elongate fixation member;
• and
• a flexible tensioning element configured to pass through the longitudinal passageway of the elongate fixation member and couple intermediate the first and second cortical fixation elements to provide a compression force therebetween,
• wherein:
• the flexible tensioning element passing through the longitudinal passageway of the elongate fixation member spans a bone fracture intermediate the first and second bone fragments;
• and
• the flexible tensioning element coupled intermediate the first and second cortical fixation elements is configured to preload the bone fracture in compression to resist tensile force imparted across the bone fracture, thereby maintaining fixation of the first bone fragment relative to the second bone fragment.

A bone fixation assembly comprising:

• an elongate fixation member comprising:
• a longitudinal passageway formed through the elongate fixation member;
• a proximal portion couplable to a first bone fragment of a bone;
• and
• a distal portion couplable to a second bone fragment of the bone to provide fixation of the second bone fragment relative to the first bone fragment;
• a flexible tensioning element configured to pass through the longitudinal passageway and form a loop that spans the first and second bone fragments to secure the elongate fixation member to the bone;
• and
• a tension locking mechanism configured to lock and maintain a selected tension force applied to the flexible tensioning element, the tension locking mechanism comprising:
• a tension chamber formed within the elongate fixation member;
• a tension chamber locking surface positioned within the tension chamber;
• a taper bullet receivable within the tension chamber;
• and
• a taper bullet locking surface shaped to engage the tension chamber locking surface;
• wherein:
• the loop spanning the first and second bone fragments spans a bone fracture intermediate the first and second bone fragments;
• the selected tension force applied to the flexible tensioning element is locked and maintained by the tension locking mechanism to preload the bone fracture in compression to resist tensile force imparted across the bone fracture, thereby maintaining fixation of the first bone fragment relative to the second bone fragment;
• a first end of the flexible tensioning element is configured to couple with the taper bullet;
• and
• a second end of the flexible tensioning element is configured to:
• exit the longitudinal passageway at a distal end of the elongate fixation member;
• wrap back around the first and second bone fragments to form the loop spanning the first and second bone fragments;
• enter back into the longitudinal passageway at a proximal end of the elongate fixation member;
• pass through the tension chamber formed within the elongate fixation member such that the flexible tensioning element becomes trapped between the tension chamber locking surface and the taper bullet locking surface;
• and
• exit the longitudinal passageway at the distal end of the elongate fixation member.