Fracture plating systems and methods

A fracture plating system configured to stabilize a first fracture of a bone of a patient, the bone comprising an interior surface facing toward an interior body cavity of the patient, and an exterior surface facing away from the interior body cavity, the fracture plating system comprising:

• a plate comprising one or more slots and configured to span the first fracture;
• a first fastener configured to be received in one of the one or more slots and secure the plate to the interior surface of the bone;
• a first nut comprising a first body length and configured to engage the first fastener;
• a second fastener configured to be received in one of the one or more slots and secure the plate to the interior surface of the bone;
• a second nut comprising a second body length and configured to engage the second fastener;
• and
• one or more tethers configured to apply a force to the first fastener and the second fastener to guide the plate, the first fastener, and the second fastener through the interior body cavity to the interior surface of the bone;
• wherein:
• the first nut and the second nut are selected from a set of nuts, each having a different body length to accommodate a different thickness of the bone;
• the first body length is configured to extend into the bone a first depth;
• the second body length is configured to extend into the bone a second depth different from the first depth;
• and
• with the first fastener and the second fastener captive within a first slot and a second slot, respectively, of the one or more slots, the first fastener is rotatable within the first slot and the second fastener is rotatable within the second slot.

A fracture plating system configured to stabilize a first fracture of a bone of a patient, the bone comprising an interior surface facing toward an interior body cavity of the patient, and an exterior surface facing away from the interior body cavity, the fracture plating system comprising:

• a plate assembly comprising:
• a plate comprising one or more slots and configured to span the first fracture;
• a first fastener configured to be coupled to one of the one or more slots and to secure the plate to the interior surface of the bone;
• and
• a second fastener configured to be coupled to one of the one or more slots and to secure the plate to the interior surface of the bone;
• and
• one or more tethers configured to apply a force directly to the first fastener and the second fastener to guide the plate assembly through the interior body cavity to the interior surface of the bone;
• wherein the first fastener comprises a first head, a first threaded portion, and a first shank extending between the first head and the first threaded portion, with the first head and the first threaded portion enlarged relative to the first shank such that the first shank is captive in one of the one or more slots.

A fracture plating system configured to stabilize a first fracture of a bone of a patient, the bone comprising an interior surface facing toward an interior body cavity of the patient, and an exterior surface facing away from the interior body cavity, the fracture plating system comprising:

• a plate comprising one or more slots and configured to span the first fracture;
• a first fastener comprising a first threaded portion and configured to be received in one of the one or more slots and to secure the plate to the interior surface of the bone;
• a first nut configured to engage the first fastener;
• a second fastener comprising a second threaded portion and configured to be received in one of the one or more slots and to secure the plate to the interior surface of the bone;
• a second nut configured to engage the second fastener;
• and
• one or more tethers configured to apply a force to the first fastener and the second fastener to guide the plate, the first fastener, and the second fastener through the interior body cavity to the interior surface of the bone;
• wherein:
• with the first nut engaged with the first fastener, the first threaded portion does not extend beyond the first nut;
• with the second nut engaged with the second fastener, the second threaded portion does not extend beyond the second nut;
• the first fastener, the second fastener, and at least one of the one or more tethers are configured to be provided in a pre-assembled state in which:
• the first fastener and the second fastener are each captively retained within a respective one of the one or more slots through contact between a head of each fastener and the plate;
• and
• the at least one tether extends through a first cannulation of the first fastener and through a second cannulation of the second fastener such that the plate, the first fastener, the second fastener, and the at least one tether are guidable to the interior surface as a single integrated unit.