Patent ID: 8277449

Claim:
A method for using an orthopedic apparatus for bridging between a first bone unit and a second bone unit of at least one of an injured bone and an injured joint for one of distraction, compression, and static of the at least one of the injured bone and the injured joint, comprising the steps of: a) inserting at least one first pin transversely at least into the first bone unit, leaving an end of the at least one first pin sticking out from the first bone unit on one side of the at least one of the injured bone and the injured joint; b) inserting at least one second pin transversely at least into the second bone unit, leaving an end of the at least one second pin sticking out from the second bone unit on the one side of the at least one of the injured bone and the injured joint; c) positioning the apparatus on the one side of the at least one of the injured bone and the injured joint; d) sliding first attaching means of the apparatus over the end of the at least one first pin so as to allow the first attaching means to pivot relative to the at least one first pin when the at least one first pin is one pin, and sliding second attaching means of the apparatus over the end of the at least one second pin, respectively, and in doing so, mounting the apparatus to the at least one first pin and to the at least one second pin; and e) deforming control means of the apparatus to produce at least two conditions: i) in a first of the conditions, the second bone unit is urged in a first direction relative to the first bone unit for one of the distraction and the compression of the at least one of the injured bone and the injured joint, and ii) in a second of the conditions, the second bone unit is urged in a direction other than the first direction for the other one of the distraction and the compression of the at least one of the injured bone and the injured joint; wherein said deforming step includes deforming control means that is a rhombus-shaped ring made from a non-memory metal so as to allow it to maintain its deformed shape once deformed.