Dynamic bone fixation element and method of using the same

A dynamic bone fixation element for coupling a load carrier to a patient's bone or bone fragments, the dynamic bone fixation element comprising:

• a bone engaging component for engaging the bone or bone fragments, the bone engaging component including a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending at least partially from the proximal end of the bone engaging component, the lumen defining an inner surface;
• and
• a load carrier engaging component including a head portion for engaging the load carrier and a shaft portion extending from the head portion, the shaft portion having a proximal end, a distal end and an outer surface, the shaft portion being sized and configured to at least partially extend into the lumen formed in the bone engaging component;
• wherein at least a portion of the shaft portion has a diameter DS and at least a portion of the lumen has a diameter DL, the diameter DL being greater than the diameter DS so that at least a portion of the outer surface of the shaft portion is spaced away from at least a portion of the inner surface of the lumen;
• and
• wherein the distal end of the shaft portion is coupled to the lumen at a position distally of the proximal end of the bone engaging component so that the head portion moves with respect to the bone engaging component.