Self Centering Feature for an Intramedullary Nail

A method for treating a bone, comprising:

• inserting an intramedullary device into a medullary canal of a bone, the intramedullary device extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end and including a locking hole extending laterally therethrough along a central axis, the locking hole defined by a first opening extending through a first portion of a wall of the device and a second opening extending through a second portion of the wall substantially opposing the first portion, the first opening being elongated in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the nail and the second opening including a coupling element;
• drilling a hole into the bone to correspond to a position of the locking nail along a length of the intramedullary device;
• and
• inserting a bone fixation element through the hole in the bone and into the first opening such that a threaded portion of the first bone fixation element is guided into the second opening to engage the coupling element and lock the bone fixation element therein at an angle within a permitted range of angulations relative to the central axis.

A method for treating a bone, comprising:

• positioning a bone plate over a target portion of a far cortex of a bone, the bone plate including a body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end and having a locking hole extending laterally therethrough along a central axis, the locking hole defined by a first opening extending through a first portion of a wall of the nail and a second opening extending through a second portion of the wall substantially opposing the first portion, the first opening being elongated in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the nail and the second opening including a coupling element configured to lock a portion of a bone fixation element therein;
• drilling a hole into a near cortex of the bone to correspond to a position of the locking hole;
• and
• inserting a bone fixation element through the hole in the near cortex of the bone and into the first opening such that a threaded portion of the first bone fixation element is guided into the second opening to engage the coupling element and lock the bone fixation element therein at an angle within a permitted range of angulations relative to the central axis.

A system for bone fixation, comprising:

• a plate body sized and shaped for placement at a first target location of a bone, the plate body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end;
• and
• a locking hole extending laterally through the body along a central axis;
• a bone fixation element including a head, a shaft and a threaded portion, the bone fixation element being insertable through a second target location of the bone separated from the first target location and aligned with the central axis so that the threaded portion engages threading of the locking hole at the first target location.