Patent ID: 8721694

Claim:
A washer for use with a compression bone screw in the reduction and fixation of bone fragments, the compression bone screw having a threaded proximal portion, said washer having a central axis and comprising: a frusto-conical body made of a metal having a leading end, a trailing end, an exterior surface that extends between the leading end and the trailing end and defining a frusto-conical surface that extends between the leading end and the trailing end and an interior surface; a central bore defined by the interior surface for insertion of the bone screw, the central bore extending between a first opening at the leading end and a second opening at the trailing end, the central bore having a first diameter at the leading end and a second diameter at the trailing end, and the interior surface being tapered, whereby the central bore's first diameter is larger than the second diameter; and an inwardly extending flange provided at the leading end that further reduces the central bore's opening at the leading end, wherein the exterior surface of the frusto-conical body has a greater taper angle than a taper angle of the interior surface, whereby the washer allows engagement of the threaded proximal portion of the compression bone screw with bone fragments where the bone fragments are structurally compromised.