Bone fixation and reduction apparatus and method for fixation and reduction of a distal bone fracture and malunion

A method for fixation and reduction of a fractured distal portion of a bone, comprising:

• utilizing a bone plate comprising:
• an elongated body portion adapted for attachment to a shaft portion of the bone, said elongated body portion defining a longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel to the shaft portion of the bone;
• a head portion connected to said elongated body portion, and projecting therefrom at a first angle with respect to the first longitudinal axis, said head portion adapted for attachment to the fractured distal portion of the bone;
• at least one alignment tab projecting from a perimeter of at least one of said head portion and said elongated body portion;
• and
• a flex tab connected to a surface of an opening defined in said head portion and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, having an inner surface adapted to be pivoted into contact with, and to be attached to, at least one of the shaft portion of the bone proximate the fractured distal portion of the bone and the fractured distal portion of the bone;
• aligning said head portion on the fractured distal portion of the bone, such that said elongated body portion projects away from the shaft portion of the bone at an angle corresponding to the first angle;
• pivoting said flex tab into contact with the at least one of the shaft portion of the bone proximate the fractured distal portion of the bone and the fractured distal portion of the bone;
• attaching said flex tab to the at least one of the shaft portion of the bone proximate the fractured distal portion of the bone and the fractured distal portion of the bone;
• attaching said at least one alignment tab to the bone;
• attaching said head portion to the fractured distal portion of the bone;
• applying pressure to said elongated body portion to bring said elongated body portion into contact with the shaft portion of the bone;
• and
• attaching said elongated body portion to the shaft portion of the bone.

A method for fixation and reduction of a malformed distal portion of a bone, comprising:

• utilizing a bone plate comprising:
• an elongated body portion adapted for attachment to a shaft portion of the bone, said elongated body portion defining a longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel to the shaft portion of the bone;
• a head portion connected to said elongated body portion, and projecting therefrom at a first angle with respect to the first longitudinal axis, said head portion adapted for attachment to the fractured distal portion of the bone;
• at least one alignment tab projecting from a perimeter of at least one of said head portion and said elongated body portion;
• and
• a flex tab connected to a surface of an opening defined in said head portion and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, adapted to be pivoted into contact with, and to be attached to, at least one of the shaft portion of the bone proximate the malformed distal portion of the bone and the malformed distal portion of the bone;
• cutting the malformed distal portion of the bone with respect to the shaft portion of the bone proximate the malformed distal portion of the bone;
• aligning said head portion on the malformed distal portion of the bone, such that said elongated body portion projects away from the shaft portion of the bone at an angle corresponding to the first angle;
• pivoting said flex tab into contact with the at least one of the surface of the shaft portion of the bone proximate the malformed distal portion of the bone and the malformed distal portion of the bone;
• attaching said flex tab to the at least one of the shaft portion of the bone proximate the malformed distal portion of the bone and the malformed distal portion of the bone;
• attaching said at least one alignment tab to the bone;
• attaching said head portion to the malformed distal portion of the bone, such that said elongated body portion projects away from the shaft portion of the bone at an angle corresponding to the first angle;
• applying pressure to said elongated body portion to bring said elongated body portion into contact with the shaft portion of the bone;
• and
• attaching said elongated body portion to the shaft portion of the bone.