Patent ID: 8518042

Claim:
An orthopedic plate assembly for supporting a bone, comprising: a y-shaped first plate attachable to the bone and having a center line, the first plate including an elongate body attachable to a first portion of the bone and extending along the center line from a first end to a second end of the body, a first arm transversely extending away from the center line at a first angle from the second end of the body, and a second arm transversely extending away from the center line at a second angle from the second end of the body to form the y-shaped first plate, the first and second arms defining a triangularly shaped aperture between the first and second arms in the first plate; and a second plate separate from the first plate and attachable to the bone, the second plate having a first end configured to be disposed on and engaged with the first arm, and a second end opposite the first end configured to be disposed on and engaged with the second arm, the second plate configured to span the triangularly shaped aperture transverse to the center line when engaged with the first and second arms; wherein the second plate is configured to engage the first arm in a first recess formed in a central region of the first arm between the body and an end of the first arm opposite the body, and to engage the second arm in a second recess formed in a central region of the second arm between the body and an end of the second arm opposite the body, wherein upon engaging the second plate to the first plate, an outer surface of the second plate is flush with an outer surface of the first plate.