A receiver assembly for securing an elongate rod to a bone anchor including a receiver and a threaded plug. The receiver including an upper portion defining a channel to receive the elongate rod, an interior surface having helically wound receiver thread, and an exterior surface having first and second horizontal curvate extending instrument engaging grooves. The threaded plug including a longitudinal axis, a lower surface having a protrusion, and an external side surface having a continuous helically wound closure thread to rotatably mate with the helically wound receiver thread. The continuous helically wound closure thread including a lower leading surface and an upper trailing surface, both extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a cylindrical outer crest surface extending parallel to the longitudinal axis. When the protrusion on the threaded plug engages the elongate rod, the threaded plug does not extend overtop a top surface of the receiver.

A bone anchor for the fixation of bone components and bone fragments, including a shaft, a neck area and a head located in proximal direction and a tip located in distal direction, wherein the bone anchor has a mainly cylindrically shaped hollow chamber extending along the central axis, wherein the hollow chamber is adjacent a transition zone located proximally from a central plane, characterized in that the transition zone at least partially has an inner diameter and the hollow chamber at least partially has an opening diameter, and the opening diameter of the hollow chamber is greater than the inner diameter of the proximal transition zone.

A bone repair system and method for percutaneously fixing a first bone segment to a second bone segment, such as rib bone segments, in a body of a patient include drilling a first hole through the first bone segment and a second hole through the second bone segment, and feeding a first tether through the first hole and a second tether through the second hole, each tether having a proximal end and a distal end. The first and second tether distal ends are withdrawn from the body while the first and second tether proximal ends have not passed through the first and second bone segments, respectively. A reinforcing member, such as a bone plate, having first and second openings, is passed onto the first and second tether distal ends, and the reinforcing member is pulled into engagement with the first and second bone segments guided by the tethers. The reinforcing member is secured to the first bone segment with a first fastener assembly through the first hole and the first opening and to the second bone segment with a second fastener assembly through the second hole and the second opening to fix the first bone segment to the second bone segment.

An orthopedic drill bit includes a cutting head formed to include diametrically opposed cutting lips leading to a central point and away to a radiused periphery to center said bit. The drill includes flutes extending from a cutting end, said flutes having a dulled periphery to prevent out of round holes. The flute design increases in width progressively from the tip up the shank, to maintain an adequate and unrestricted space for chips to easily move upward, preventing the chips from being compressed into a smaller opening while maintaining the tapered depth of the flutes for strength.

A bone fastener comprises a first member defining an implant cavity and a plurality of adjacent grooves. A first band is configured for disposal within the grooves. A second band is configured for disposal within the grooves. A second member is configured to penetrate tissue and includes a head engageable with the first band to provisionally connect the members. The second band is moveable for disposal adjacent the first band to fix connection of the members. Implants, systems, instruments and methods are disclosed.

An implant includes a curved first plate section having a curvature about a longitudinal axis extending in a longitudinal direction. The first plate section has a first hole and a second hole. The first hole and the second hole are positioned to receive respective bone screws for attaching the implant to a first curved surface of a bone having a syndesmosis. A second plate section extends continuously from the first plate section. The second plate section has at least a third hole that is positioned to be offset from the first hole and the second hole in a direction that is anterior or posterior from the first hole and the second hole in a case where the longitudinal axis is aligned along a superior-inferior direction. The third hole is configured to receive at least one screw or at least one button for holding a suture at a position offset from the first line segment hole and the second hole in the anterior or posterior direction, for reducing the syndesmosis.

A sleeve can be adapted to reinforce a bone anchor, and can include a body, a lock, and an actuator. The body can include a first sleeve arm and a second sleeve arm, where each can extend longitudinally along opposing sides of a longitudinal bore open at a distal end of the sleeve. The lock can be coupled to the body and releasably securable to a channel of a head of the bone anchor to secure the sleeve to the anchor.

An anchor assembly can be couplable to a bone and can include an anchor and a housing. The anchor can include a shank securable to bone and a head coupled to a proximal portion of the shank.

An orthopedic drill bit includes a cutting head formed to include diametrically opposed cutting lips leading to a central point and away to a radiused periphery to center said bit. The drill includes flutes extending from a cutting end, said flutes having a dulled periphery to prevent out of round holes. The flute design increases in width progressively from the tip up the shank, to maintain an adequate and unrestricted space for chips to easily move upward, preventing the chips from being compressed into a smaller opening while maintaining the tapered depth of the flutes for strength.

An orthopedic screw extension for use in spinal implant applications.