ORTHOPEDIC IMPLANT WITH IMPROVED VARIABLE ANGLE LOCKING MECHANISM

An orthopedic implant including an outer surface and at least one opening extending through the outer surface for receiving a fastener for coupling the implant to a patient's bone or bone portion/fragment. The opening including a plurality of fins circumferentially disposed about the opening for engaging threads formed on a head portion of the fastener to secure the fastener to the implant. The plurality of fins being arranged and configured in first and second vertically spaced rows of fins. At least one of the fins including a different configuration, property, etc. relative to at least one of the other plurality of fins. In one embodiment, each of the first and second fins in a vertically stacked relationship includes a different configuration from the other of the first and second fins in that stack. In one embodiment, the different configuration includes a different length, a different thickness, or a combination thereof.