US Patent 9364275 Compression instrument

A system and method for pressing fragments of a fracture against each other includes a compression device comprising a hollow shaft. The system has an inner engagement portion for engaging an outer feature of a screw head arranged at a distal end of the shaft. The system has a supporting element with a contact surface adapted to abut on one of the fragments, and a joint is provided between the supporting element and the hollow shaft. The joint is formed so as to allow a rotation of the shaft about a longitudinal axis thereof relative to the supporting element. Additionally, the joint is formed to allow a pivot movement of the supporting element relative to the shaft.