Patent ID: 7615051

Claim:
A method of performing craniofacial reduction on a head of a patient comprising: positioning adjacent the head of the patient a supporting structure for adjustably securing a reduction platform, the reduction platform having means for fixation to the supporting structure; adjustably securing the reduction platform to the supporting structure; locating a fractured bone portion to be reduced that is located adjacent a second bone portion; positioning the reduction platform above the surface of the head of the patient and over the fractured bone portion, the reduction platform having a plurality of circular bores configured to have a diameter to receive a fragment manipulator and a top surface; inserting a fragment manipulator through one of the bores of the reduction platform wherein the fragment manipulator has a threaded, bone-engaging end portion; engaging the fractured bone portion with the bone-engaging end of the fragment manipulator; threading a nut onto the fragment manipulator until the nut contacts the reduction platform; and rotating the nut so that the fragment manipulator is drawn up through the nut to pull the located, fractured bone portion attached to the fragment manipulator toward the reduction platform and thus changing the relative position of the fracture bone portion and the adjacent, second bone portion.