Abstract: System and method for fixing a distal femur having a Hoffa fracture. The system may comprise a main plate, an outrigger plate, and a coupling member that mounts the outrigger plate to the main plate. In an exemplary method, an elongated body portion of the main plate may be secured to a shaft region of the distal femur, and a wider head portion of the main plate may be secured to an end region of the distal femur. The outrigger plate may be mounted on the head portion of the main plate, and an arm of the outrigger plate may be fastened to a condylar fragment of the femur with one or more fasteners, such that the outrigger plate spans and stabilizes the Hoffa fracture.

Abstract: Systems and methods for bone fixation using a plate straddled by a retainer. In an exemplary system, the plate may be an elongated plate configured to be disposed longitudinally on a bone. The retainer may have a body interconnecting a pair of mounting regions. The body may define a recess, and each mounting region may define a first aperture and a second aperture. The retainer may be configured to be mated with the plate to position a section of the plate in the recess such that the retainer straddles the plate. The first apertures may be configured to define through-axes that are tangential to the bone, to enable use with a line including wire and/or cable, and each second aperture may be configured to define a through-axis that extends through opposite sides of the bone while avoiding a medullary canal thereof, to enable use with a threaded fastener.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for fixing a bone using a plate and a coupler that are connected to one another with flexible members. The plate may be configured to be attached to a shaft region of a bone. The coupler may be configured to be disposed on an end region of the bone, and may define a bore and an aperture. The flexible members may include a first flexible member and a second flexible member, each including a wire or cable. The first flexible member may be configured to extend from the plate, through the bore, and back to the plate. The second flexible member may be configured to extend from the plate to the coupler on a path that approaches the coupler transverse to a line that is parallel to the bore. The apparatus and method may be used to stabilize the greater trochanter of a femur.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for fixing a bone using a plate and a coupler that are connected to one another with flexible members. The plate may be configured to be attached to a shaft region of a bone. The coupler may be configured to be disposed on an end region of the bone, and may define a bore and an aperture. The flexible members may include a first flexible member and a second flexible member, each including a wire or cable. The first flexible member may be configured to extend from the plate, through the bore, and back to the plate. The second flexible member may be configured to extend from the plate to the coupler on a path that approaches the coupler transverse to a line that is parallel to the bore. The apparatus and method may be used to stabilize the greater trochanter of a femur.

Abstract: Systems and methods for bone fixation using a plate straddled by a retainer. In an exemplary system, the plate may be an elongated plate configured to be disposed longitudinally on a bone. The retainer may have a body interconnecting a pair of mounting regions. The body may define a recess, and each mounting region may define a first aperture and a second aperture. The retainer may be configured to be mated with the plate to position a section of the plate in the recess such that the retainer straddles the plate. The first apertures may be configured to define through-axes that are tangential to the bone, to enable use with a line including wire and/or cable, and each second aperture may be configured to define a through-axis that extends through opposite sides of the bone while avoiding a medullary canal thereof, to enable use with a threaded fastener.

Abstract: System and method for fixing a distal femur having a Hoffa fracture. The system may comprise a main plate, an outrigger plate, and a coupling member that mounts the outrigger plate to the main plate. In an exemplary method, an elongated body portion of the main plate may be secured to a shaft region of the distal femur, and a wider head portion of the main plate may be secured to an end region of the distal femur. The outrigger plate may be mounted on the head portion of the main plate, and an arm of the outrigger plate may be fastened to a condylar fragment of the femur with one or more fasteners, such that the outrigger plate spans and stabilizes the Hoffa fracture.