Orthopedic plate for use in the MTP joint

A plate system which is capable of fixation of bone at the first metatarsophalangeal joint comprising a plate, at least one locking screw having a set of distal threads and a set of proximal threads which mate with a set of threads in an opening in the plate, and optionally at least one non-locking screw which has a set of distal threads and a head having a rounded distal surface, the plate consisting of a trunk portion and a first set of ears and a second set of ears, the trunk portion extending along a length and having a first end and a second end and having a transverse medial plane therebetween, at least one of the first and the second end including a terminal area with a compression slot including an internal edge which has an incline which tapers downward toward the transverse medial plane and to allow a non-locking screw to drive compression in the bone toward the transverse medial axis of the plate, the trunk portion having a first side along the length and a second side along the length, one set of ears extending from the first side of the plate, and the second set of ears extending from the second side of the plate, each set of ears comprising a first and a second ear each having a through hole, the compression slot being terminal relative to the length of the plate to the threaded through hole of the first and second ears, and the plate having an inner surface which includes a first axis and a second axis and the first and second axes being at an angle of from about 2° to about 25° to each other in the dorsal direction and in the valgus direction.

A method of fusing a first metatarsophalangeal joint, comprising:

• surgically accessing the joint by making an incision;
• selecting a plate system comprising a locking screw having at least one locking thread having a set of distal threads and a set of proximal threads which mate with a set of threads in an opening in the plate, and at least one non-locking screw which has a set of distal threads and a head having a rounded distal surface, the plate comprising a trunk portion and a first set of ears and a second set of ears, the trunk portion extending along a length and having a first end and a second end and having a transverse medial plane therebetween, at least one of the first and the second end including a terminal area with a compression slot including an internal edge which has an incline which tapers downward toward the transverse medial plane and to allow the non-locking screw to drive compression over the first metatarsophalangeal joint toward the transverse medial axis of the plate, the trunk portion having a first side along the length and a second side along the length, one set of ears extending from the first side of the plate, and the second set of ears extending from the second side of the plate, each set of ears comprising a first and a second ear each having a threaded through hole, the compression slot being terminal relative to the length of the plate to the threaded through hole of the first and second ears, and the plate having a inner surface which includes a first axis and a second axis and the first and second axes being at an angle of from about 2° to about 25° to each other in the dorsal direction and in the valgus direction;
• selectively drilling a pilot hole for at least one of the locking screws and inserting a screw through a threaded hole in an ear in the plate and into the pilot hole;
• selectively drilling a pilot hole for at least one of the non-locking holes and inserting the non-locking screw through the compression slot and into the compression slot pilot hole to drive compression at the joint;
• and surgically closing the incision.