Bone fixation system

Claim 1

A fixation system for drawing together into engaging relationship mutually opposed fracture surfaces of a pair of bone fragments at a site of fracture comprising: an elongated blade extending between leading and trailing ends, said leading end being sharpened to enable said blade to be driven into a first bond fragment generally parallel to and spaced from a fracture surface of the first bone fragment; a flange member integral with said trailing end of said blade and extending transverse of said blade and positioned to engage the first and second bond fragments and overlie the site of fracture between the first and second bone fragments, said flange member having at least one through opening therein the opening having an axis which extends away from said blade with increased distance into the second bone fragment, the opening being defined by an outwardly facing crescent surface nearest said blade and an inwardly facing crescent surface farthest from said blade; a screw fastener for reception through each opening in said flange member, said screw fastened having a head and a threaded shank extending away from said head, said screw fastener intended for threaded engagement with the second bone fragment along the axis of the through opening in said flange member away from the site of the fracture and away from said blade with increased distance from said flange member and subject to being tightened until said head engages said flange member, and thereafter, to impart a selected compressive force to the first and second bone fragments causing them to be firmly held together at the site of fracture in a selected contiguous relationship thereby enabling healing to proceed.