A bone-fastening
system includes an
implant with a threaded screw, a distal nut with a threaded bore, and a proximal
washer which may also be threaded. An instrument for implanting the
implant includes a
handle and a
barrel terminating in a holder for the
washer. A c-shaped bridge
assembly has a first end connected to the
barrel and a second end including a holder for the nut in axial alignment with the
washer. A manually operated control on the instrument, coupled to an elongated element in the
barrel, causes the washer to move toward the nut, thereby applying
compressive pressure to bone portions to be fastened together. A drive mechanism disposed within the barrel has a distal end with a holder for the screw and a proximal end that is turned by a user, thereby advancing the screw through the washer to the nut to fasten the bone portions under compression. The manually operated control is preferably a trigger that is squeezed toward the
handle by a user. A separate control, also preferably in the form of a trigger, is used to release pressure on the elongated element in the barrel, enabling the
implant to be easily removed from the implant once in position.