Patent ID: 7811286

Claim:
A fracture fixation implant comprising: a first portion constructed and arranged to be implanted within a bone across a fracture site in said bone, a second portion integrally formed with said first portion by a bend, said second portion being of a length to extend alongside but separated from said first portion across the fracture site outside the bone, said bend being of a size to extend outside the bone and space the second portion from the first portion by a distance so that the second portion can pass on a superficial surface of the bone, such that said first and second portions are juxtaposed with one another in offset planes with the first portion extending longitudinally in the bone and the second portion extending longitudinally on the outside of the bone, the arrangement being such that by applying a pulling force to said second portion, a tension force can be developed in said first and second portions, and a fixation element having means for being secured to said bone and for cooperating with said second portion to maintain said tension force developed in the first and second portions and produce compression of the bone across the fracture site, said first and second portions being integrally formed and joined together by said bend portion, said bend portion forming a transition between said first and second portions, said second portion transitioning to a surface adapted to conform with the superficial surface of the bone, said fixation element comprising a fastener which can pass through a hole in the second portion to secure the second portion directly to the bone at the superficial surface, said second portion comprising a flat body forming a plate in which said hole is provided to receive said fastener.