Abstract: A bone plate is especially adapted to solve the problems pertinent to all fracture types of the proximal humerus but especially all three-part and four-part fractures and fracture dislocations of the proximal humerus. The first bone plate (30) is configured and arranged to match the contour of a healthy unfractured proximal humerus. The bone plate (30) includes an elongate shaft portion (32) and a head portion (34). The shaft portion (32) is adapted for receiving bone screws to fix the bone plate to a shaft of a humerus. The head portion includes a first head section (53) and a second head section (54), with an obtuse angle defined therebetween. The first and second head sections (53, 54) extend laterally away from a longitudinal axis of the shaft portion (32) in generally opposite directions.

Abstract: A skull pin has a ceramic insulating portion between a titanium driving portion and a titanium tip portion. The driving portion of the skull pin terminates in a sleeve, and the ceramic insulator with a solid cylindrical shape is received such as with a press fit in the sleeve. The preferred ceramic material is zirconia. The tip portion has an opposing outer sleeve which receives the distal end of the ceramic insulator such as with a press fit. The ceramic insulator is believed to reduce or eliminate a burning sensation felt by patients during Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which may be caused by transmission of high (radio) frequency electrical signals through the prior art skull pins.