Hook Bone Plate for Distal Radius Fracture Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bone plate fixation techniques face challenges in securing small terminal bone fragments, particularly near the end of bones, due to limited space, leading to inadequate fixation and potential postoperative failure, especially in fractures like the lateral malleolus and distal radius, where standard designs fail to provide sufficient compression and stability.
Innovation Solution
A bone plate with angled or curved regions and hook members designed to conform to the bone's surface, combined with a double-barreled drill guide and holder/impactor instrument, allows for precise placement and impact of the plate without pre-drilled pilot holes, providing rigid internal purchase and customized fixation for complex fracture patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard bone plate with screws is used for fixation, then the fixation method is simple and widely applicable, but insufficient compression and stability are achieved in small terminal bone fragments
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate is divided into distinct functional zones: a contoured body portion for anatomical adaptation and separate hook members for penetration fixation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specialized function - the body provides compression through contouring while the hooks provide anchor points in the terminal fragment.
Solution Approach 2:
The bone plate incorporates angled or curved regions that conform to the natural curvature of the bone surface, particularly at the terminal end. This curvature enables the plate to sit flush against the bone, distributing compression forces more effectively and improving fixation stability in small terminal fragments.
2Reliability
If the bone plate is contoured to conform to the bone surface, then compression and stability are improved, but the plate cannot be applied to flared terminal ends where the bone surface is at an angle
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate features asymmetric hook member positioning and contouring that can be customized for different bone geometries. The hooks are positioned at specific angles and distances from the plate end, allowing adaptation to flared terminal ends and angled bone surfaces while maintaining effective compression and penetration fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution adds a third dimension to the fixation approach by incorporating hooks that penetrate perpendicular to the plate's longitudinal axis. This dimensional change allows the plate to accommodate flared terminal ends and angled bone surfaces, as the hooks can engage the bone at appropriate angles independent of the plate's contouring.
3Reliability
If hooks are added to penetrate the terminal fragment, then internal purchase is achieved, but the plate sits off the bone surface when the bone flares at the terminal end
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate implements local quality by providing contouring at specific regions of the plate body to match the bone surface, while maintaining a different geometry at the terminal end where hooks are positioned. This allows the plate to sit flush against the bone surface in the contoured region while the hooks extend to penetrate the terminal fragment, achieving both proper positioning and internal purchase.
4Ease of operation
If manual pressure is used to penetrate hooks into bone, then the technique is simple to apply, but inconsistent engagement and fixation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate is pre-configured with hooks at specific angles, positions, and orientations during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that when the plate is applied to the bone, the hooks are already positioned to engage the terminal fragment at the correct depth and angle, eliminating the need for manual adjustment and ensuring consistent engagement.
5Device complexity
If equal distance hooks are used from the plate end, then the design is simple and symmetrical, but both hooks cannot be completely seated when the bone surface is at an angle
Solution Approach 1:
The bone plate employs asymmetric hook positioning where hooks are placed at different distances from the plate end and at different angles relative to the longitudinal axis. This asymmetry allows each hook to be optimized for its specific engagement point on the bone, ensuring both hooks can be completely seated even when the bone surface is at an angle, while maintaining relative design simplicity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 2D~2F
AI summary
A bone fixation plate (40) for fixation of fractures having a small terminal bone fragment, such as fractures of the distal radius. The plate (40) includes an elongated body (41), and two hook members (44, 45) extending from a first end (42) of the elongated body. A contoured region (47) is configured to approximate the surface contour of the distal radius proximate the volar rim, the dorsal rim, or the radial arm. Each hook member is configured to provide subchondral support to a distal bone fragment, without causing shortening of the fragment into the metaphyseal bone, and without providing a bending torque directed to the base of the plate. The tooth members of the hook plate are preferably sharpened at their tips and edges to facilitate their impaction. A holder/impactor for gripping the radial hook plate, and for further facilitating impacting of the hook plate without the need to pre-drill pilot holes, is also provided.