Patent ID: 8628532

Claim:
A method for reducing a fracture between a first bone fragment and a second bone fragment, comprising: installing an implant to extend across the fracture by positioning a first portion of the implant adjacent the first bone fragment and a second portion of the implant adjacent the second bone fragment; inserting a first locking device into a first locking opening in the first portion of the implant and engaging the first locking device with the first bone fragment to lock the implant to the first bone fragment; inserting a buttress device into an elongated slotted opening in the second portion of the implant and engaging the buttress device with the second bone fragment to movably attach the implant to the second bone fragment; at least partially reducing the fracture by applying an axial force on the buttress device and axially translating the buttress device along the elongated slotted opening to move the second bone fragment towards the first bone fragment; and after the reducing, fixing the position of the second bone fragment relative to the first bone fragment by inserting a second locking device into a second locking opening in the second portion of the implant and engaging the second locking device with the second bone fragment to lock the implant to the second bone fragment.