Patent ID: 9597128
Date: 2017-03-21
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. A method of reattaching at least one bone fragment separated from a proximal portion of a humerus in a shoulder joint, the method comprising the steps of: introducing a distal end of a humeral nail into a medullary canal of the humerus; engaging a first proximal screw with the at least one bone fragment and the humeral nail, wherein a distal end of the first proximal screw does not extend substantially past the humeral nail and a first proximal bore in the proximal end of the humeral nail to attach the bone fragment to the nail, after inserting the first proximal screw into the humeral nail, rotating the humeral nail and the attached bone fragment relative to the medullary canal of the humerus to position the bone fragment such that distal end of the proximal screw does not damage surrounding bony structures and soft tissues; engaging a second proximal screw with, the at least one bone fragment and a second proximal bore in the proximal end of the humeral nail to attach the bone fragment to the nail, wherein the second proximal bore is positioned between about 30 degrees and about 40 degrees relative to the neutral axis in a postero-anterior direction; and engaging a third proximal screw with the at least one bone fragment and a third proximal bore in the proximal end of the humeral nail to attach the bone fragment to the nail, wherein the third proximal bore is positioned between about 90 degrees and about 100 degrees relative to the neutral axis in an antero-posterior direction, and wherein the first proximal screw has a length shorter than a length of the second and third proximal screws.