Patent ID: 8652180

Claim:
A method of bone fixation, comprising: fastening a handle assembly to a bone plate defining a long axis and a plane, the handle assembly including an extension portion connected to a graspable grip portion, the extension portion providing a radiopaque alignment region, wherein, when the handle assembly is fastened to the bone plate, orthogonally projecting the bone plate and the alignment region onto the plane results in the alignment region being positioned coaxially to the long axis of the bone plate and at least substantially entirely outside a perimeter of the bone plate; generating one or more radiographic images of the alignment region disposed above a shaft portion of a long bone while the bone plate is disposed on an end portion of the long bone that is wider than the shaft portion; adjusting an orientation of the bone plate on the long bone based on a relative alignment of the alignment region and the shaft portion in the radiographic images; securing the bone plate to the long bone; and disconnecting the handle assembly from the bone plate.