Method and apparatus for securing an object to bone and/or for stabilizing bone

A method for securing an object to bone, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an object having an opening extending therethrough, and providing a sleeve/screw construction for securing the object to bone, the sleeve/screw construction comprising:
• a sleeve adapted for positioning through the opening in the object and into the bone, the sleeve comprising:
• a shank having a distal end and a proximal end and an opening extending from the distal end to the proximal end, wherein the opening narrows toward the distal end of the shank, and further wherein the distal end of the shank is slit so as to form a plurality of radially-expandable segments;
• an enlarged head formed at the proximal end of the shank, the enlarged head being formed so as to be radially-expandable;
• the sleeve being sized so that when the sleeve is positioned through the opening in the object and into the bone, at least a portion of the radially-expandable segments extend into the bone beyond the cortical bone/cancellous bone interface;
• and
• a screw adapted for positioning through the opening in the sleeve, the screw being sized so as to (i) radially expand the distal end of the sleeve so that the sleeve is secured to the bone, and (ii) radially expand the enlarged head of the sleeve so that the sleeve is secured to the object, whereby to secure the object to the bone;
• positioning the object against the bone;
• placing the sleeve through the opening in the object and into the bone;
• and
• positioning the screw in the sleeve so as to secure the sleeve to the bone and to the object, whereby to secure the object to the bone.