Plating Concept for Distal Radial Fractures

A bone fixation system, comprising:

• a bone fixation plate having a plate body extending from a first end configured and dimensioned for placement over a shaft of a bone to a second end configured and dimensioned for placement over an epiphysis of the bone, an outer diameter of the plate body increasing from the first end to the second end to substantially conform to dimensions of the bone, an opening extending through the plate from a first surface which, when the plate is mounted on the target bone in a desired orientation, faces away from the bone to a second surface, which when in the desired orientation, faces the bone, the opening being positioned so that, when the plate is mounted over a target portion of the bone, a fracture of the bone is visible therethrough to aid in alignment of the bone plate, and first and second holes extending through the plate from the first surface to the second surface, each of the first and second holes being structured to lockingly engage a threaded head of a bone fixation device inserted thereinto;
• and
• an aiming device having a hooked arm and a handle, the hooked arm being configured as an elongated element with a pointed tip at a distal end configured and dimensioned to contact an outer portion of the target bone, the handle being slidably positionable along the elongated portion and positioned adjacent the bone fixation plate so that a bone fixation device inserted through the handle aligns with one of the first and second holes of the bone fixation plate.

A method for fixing a damaged bone, comprising:

• positioning a bone fixation plate over a bone under visual guidance through an opening extending through the plate so a fractured target portion of the bone is visible therethrough to aid in alignment of the bone plate therewith, the opening extending from a first surface which faces away from the bone to a second surface which faces the bone, the bone fixation plate having a plate body extending from a first end configured and dimensioned for placement over a shaft of a bone to a second end configured and dimensioned for placement over an epiphysis of the bone, an outer diameter of the plate body increasing from the first end to the second end to substantially conform to dimensions of the bone;
• aligning an aiming arm over the bone fixation plate so that a pointed end of a hooked arm is positioned over a target outer surface of the bone and a bone fixation pin inserted through a handle of the aiming arm is positioned within a target one of a first and a second opening extending through the bone fixation plate;
• tightening a tightening mechanism to secure a position of the handle and bone fixation pin relative to the bone and bone fixation plate;
• and
• inserting a bone fixation device through the other one of the first and second holes and into the bone.