Patent ID: 8277451

Claim:
A method of placing a fixation member around a bone for internal fixation of the bone, comprising: inserting a first member of a cerclage tool through an incision and into a vicinity of the bone, the first member extending from a first proximal end comprising a first handle portion and along a first central portion to a first distal end comprising a first bent tube portion; inserting a second member of the cerclage tool through the incision and into the vicinity of the bone, the second member extending from a second proximal end comprising a second handle portion and along a second central portion to a second distal end comprising a second bent tube portion; joining the first and second members together to form a continuous tube with the first bent tube portion and the second bent tube portion encircling the bone, wherein the first bent tube portion and the second bent tube portion cross over one another to form a non-zero angle at a location that is proximal of the bone when viewed from a direction extending perpendicularly into a plane comprising the first and second members, wherein the continuous tube is configured and dimensioned to receive the fixation member; feeding the fixation member through the continuous tube; disassembling the joined first and second members; and removing the disassembled first and second members from the vicinity of the bone and from the incision.