Unicondylar knee implants and insertion methods therefor

Abstract

A method of balancing extension and flexion gaps in a knee joint includes preparing a tibial component seating surface at a proximal end of a tibia, extending the knee joint and measuring an extension gap between the tibial component seating surface and a distal end of a femur, and flexing the knee joint and measuring a flexion gap between the tibial component seating surface and a posterior region of the femur. The extension gap is compared with the flexion gap to determine an amount of bone that is to be removed from the posterior region of the femur for balancing the extension gap with the flexion gap.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 471,931, filed Jun. 21, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. The present application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 504,420, filed Aug. 15, 2006, entitled “Unicondylar Knee Implants and Insertion Methods Therefor” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 519,691, filed Sep. 7, 2006, entitled “Unicondylar Knee Implants and Insertion Methods Therefor”, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention generally relates to implants and more specifically relates to method and apparatus for preparing bone for receiving an implant.[0003]The use of prosthetic implants to replace damaged natural joints, or portions of such joints, in the body has become widespread as medical and technological advances have joined to provide improved materia...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0029]The kit may also include a posterior resection guide having an upper end, a lower end having an elongated opening for receiving a cutting tool and a pin opening between the upper and lower ends. The pin opening of the posterior resection guide is desirably slidable over the alignment pin. The pin opening may include a first set of pin openings and a second set of pin openings that is closer to the upper end of the posterior resection guide than the first set of pin openings. The pin opening may also include a third set of pin openings that is closer to the lower end of the posterior resection guide than the first set of pin openings. As will be described in more detail below, the different sets of pin openings may be used for adjusting the amount of bone resected from the posterior region of the femoral condyle.

[0030]These and other preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below.

Problems solved by technology

In addition, access to damaged joints is limited and the necessity for reaching the areas to be worked upon can affect the extent of intrusion required to complete an effective implant.

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