Patent ID: 8740915

Claim:
A bone fixation system configured to move at least one of a first bone segment and a second bone segment relative to the other, the first and second bone segments being separated by a bone gap, the system comprising: a fixation element configured to be received by a fixation element aperture defined in a bone fixation plate to thereby fixedly couple the fixation element to the bone fixation plate, the bone fixation plate further defining at least one bone screw aperture configured to receive a bone screw; a first lever that defines a first jaw, the first jaw including a first engagement member that defines an aperture that is configured to receive the fixation element, such that when the aperture of the first lever receives the fixation element and the fixation element is fixedly coupled to the bone fixation plate, the first lever is fixedly coupled to the bone fixation plate; and a second lever pivotally coupled to the first lever, the second lever defining a second jaw that defines a second engagement member, the second engagement member configured to receive a temporary fixation element to thereby operatively couple the second lever to the second bone segment such that pivotal movement of at least one of the first lever and the second lever relative to the other causes movement of at least one of the first bone segment and the second bone segment relative to the other, wherein the first lever is configured to be fixedly coupled to the bone fixation plate with the fixation element without first placing the bone fixation plate over the first and second bone segments and prior to the second engagement member receiving the temporary fixation element.