Bone plate and bone plate assemblies including polyaxial fasteners

A method of reducing a fracture of a bone, the method comprising:

• a) reducing the fracture to bring bone fragments in close apposition;
• b) providing a bone plate comprising a bone contacting surface, an upper surface, and openings extending between the bone contacting and upper surfaces, wherein at least some of the openings comprise threads, the at least some of the openings comprising a lower portion, a non-threaded upper portion, and a threaded portion converging towards the lower portion, the lower portion comprising a smallest diameter of the at least some of the openings;
• c) compressing the bone plate against the bone with a first fastener to hold the fracture reduction;
• and
• d) inserting a second fastener into one of the openings in the bone plate comprising threads,
• wherein the second fastener comprises a head at least partially comprising a polymeric material, and wherein, when the second fastener is inserted into the at least some of the openings comprising threads, the threads of the opening form threads in the polymeric material of the head of the second fastener to secure the second fastener in place at one of a plurality of possible angles relative to the bone plate.

A method of reducing a fracture of a bone, the method comprising:

• a) providing a bone plate comprising a bone-contacting surface, an upper surface, and a first and second opening extending between the bone-contacting and upper surfaces, wherein the first opening comprises a lower portion, a non-threaded upper portion, and a threaded portion converging towards the lower portion, the lower portion comprising a smallest diameter of the first opening;
• b) providing a first fastener comprising a head, wherein the head comprises a polymeric material;
• c) inserting the first fastener through the first opening and on a first side of the fracture, wherein the threads of the first opening form threads in the polymeric material on the head of the first fastener to secure the first fastener in place at one of a plurality of possible angles within the first opening;
• and
• d) inserting a second fastener through the second opening and into engagement with the bone on a second side of the fracture opposite the first side to adjust positioning of the bone and surrounding tissue.

A bone plate system for fixation of a bone, the system comprising:

• a) a bone plate comprising an upper surface, a bone contacting surface, and a first opening extending between the bone contacting surface and the upper surface, wherein the first opening comprises a substantially frustoconical-shaped top portion adjacent the upper surface of the plate, a bottom portion adjacent the bone contacting surface of the plate, and a threaded portion converging towards the bottom portion and comprising threads made of a first material, wherein the top portion comprises a non-threaded portion and wherein the bottom portion comprises a smallest diameter of the first opening;
• and
• b) a first fastener comprising a head and shaft for engaging bone, wherein a portion of the head comprises a polymeric material that is softer than the first material,
• wherein, when the first fastener is inserted into the first opening, the threads of the first opening form threads in the polymeric material of the head of the fastener.