US Patent 7316687 Blade plate and instruments

A blade plate, as well as instruments and methods for securing the blade plate to a bone to reduce a bone fracture. The blade plate includes a plate portion and a blade portion extending at an angle relative to the plate portion. The plate portion includes a plurality of holes for receipt of bone screws for securing the blade plate to the bone about the bone fracture. A strut screw, inserted through a hole in the plate portion, spans the angle between the plate and blade portions, and threadingly engages a hole in the blade portion to slightly draw the plate and blade portions together to compress and support the bone fracture. A pair of top screws are inserted through holes in the plate portion at angles with respect to the strut screw on either side of the strut screw. Additionally, the blade plate is designed to closely conform to the surface of the bone to minimize the gap between the bone and the blade plate. In order to secure the blade plate to a bone, a chisel/drill guide, chisel, insertion guide, and screw drill guides are provided.