Patent ID: 7537603

Claim:
A method of fusing at least two bones of a hand or a foot, comprising: selecting a bone plate including a body portion with a bone-facing surface and further including a post extending from the bone-facing surface of the body portion; forming a cavity defined by at least two bones of a hadn or a foot, the step of forming including a step of reaming to form a portion of the cavity; placing the bone plate into the cavity such that the body portion is received in the portion of the cavity and such that the post restricts movement of the body portion; and attaching the bone plate to the at least two bones using fasteners, wherein the step of reaming forms adjoining first and second portions of the cavity, wherein the first portion of the cavity is shaped according to the bone-facing surface, and wherein the second portion of the cavity is shaped according to the post, wherein the steps of placing disposes the post in the second portion of the cavity, and wherein the second portion of the cavity is formed partially by a pre-existing gap between the at least two bones.