US Patent 7727264 Intramedullary fixation device for metaphyseal long bone fractures

A fixation system (10) includes a device having a nail portion (12) and a plate portion (14), preferably horizontally and vertically offset relative to the nail portion by a neck portion (16). The nail portion (12) includes preferably threaded screw holes (24, 26), and the plate portion (14) includes longitudinally displaced peg holes (50, 52, 54), each of which is adapted to orient a peg (56, 58, 60) in a different orientation from the others. The system (10) also includes unicortical screws (28) having a reasonably large head (36) adapted to seat against the outer surface of the bone and a threaded shaft (32) adapted to engage in the screw holes (24, 26), and pegs (56, 58, 60) adapted to engage in the peg holes (50, 52, 54). Where threaded screw holes (24, 26) are used, bone is clamped between the nail portion (12) and the head (36) of the unicortical screws (28, 30). The pegs (56, 58, 60) provide stabilization and support for subchondral fragments. Moreover, as the pegs (56, 58, 60) preferably enter the subchondral fragments from a plurality of directions, additional fixation of the device (10) into the bone is provided.