Method of using a drill sleeve

A method for measuring the depth of a hole drilled in bone, comprising:

• a) placing a bone plate on a bone;
• b) providing a bone drill, the bone drill having a shaft with a boring end, an opposite tool engaging end, a surface, and graduated numerical indicia provided on said surface;
• c) providing a drill sleeve, the drill sleeve having a cylindrical body provided with a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, and a longitudinal bore extending along the longitudinal axis sized for passage of the bone drill and a resilient frictional retaining element for exerting a bearing force directly against the surface of the bone drill,
• said drill sleeve having a weight and said bearing force of said frictional retaining element supporting at least the weight of the drill sleeve on the bone drill so as to hold a longitudinal position of the drill sleeve on the bone drill,
• wherein the drill sleeve is positioned over the shaft of said bone drill;
• d) inserting the boring end of the bone drill into and through the bone plate and into bone to drill a hole;
• e) longitudinally displacing the graduated numerical indicia of the bone drill relative to the drill sleeve while drilling the hole;
• and then
• f) referencing a portion of the drill sleeve relative to the graduated numerical indicia on the bone drill to determine the depth of the drilled hole.