Interconnected implants and methods

An apparatus for replacing a natural or artificial articular surface of a hip joint and for repairing a greater trochanter of a femur associated with the hip joint, the apparatus comprising:

• a hip prosthesis comprising:
• a neck that is securable to the femur associated with the hip joint;
• an arm coupled to the neck such that the arm extends toward an articular surface;
• and
• a first attachment interface formed on a superior surface of the hip prosthesis;
• a bone plate comprising:
• an arm comprising a bone engagement surface that is securable to the greater trochanter of the femur;
• a first plurality of bone engagement features extending anteriorly of the arm, each of the first plurality of bone engagement features having a hole;
• a second plurality of bone engagement features extending posteriorly of the arm, each of the second plurality of bone engagement features having a hole;
• and
• a second attachment interface that is attachable to the first attachment interface of the hip prosthesis in order to couple the bone plate to the hip prosthesis;
• and
• a plurality of bone screws insertable through the holes of the bone engagement features and into the greater trochanter to secure the arm directly to the greater trochanter;
• wherein the arm is shaped such that, with the second attachment interface attached to the first attachment interface, the arm extends in a caudal direction along a lateral aspect of the greater trochanter.

A method of replacing a natural or artificial articular surface of a hip joint and repairing a fracture of a greater trochanter of a femur associated with the hip joint, the method comprising:

• coupling a joint replacement prosthesis to the femur, the joint replacement prosthesis comprising a first attachment interface;
• replacing an articular surface of the hip joint with a prosthetic articular surface of the joint replacement prosthesis coupled to the femur;
• coupling a bone plate to the joint replacement prosthesis, the bone plate comprising:
• an arm comprising a bone engagement surface;
• a first plurality of bone engagement features extending anteriorly of the arm, each of the first plurality of bone engagement features having a hole;
• a second plurality of bone engagement features extending posteriorly of the arm, each of the second plurality of bone engagement features having a hole;
• and
• a second attachment interface;
• attaching the second attachment interface to the first attachment interface to couple the bone plate to the joint replacement prosthesis;
• flexing the bone plate into conformity with a lateral aspect of the greater trochanter such that the arm extends in a caudal direction along a lateral aspect of the greater trochanter;
• and
• inserting one or more bone screws through the holes of the bone engagement features and into the greater trochanter to secure the bone plate to an anterior side of the lateral aspect and to a posterior side of the lateral aspect such that the bone plate retains bone fragments of the greater trochanter both anteriorly and posteriorly fracture.

A system for replacing a natural or artificial articular surface of a hip joint and for repairing a greater trochanter associated with the hip joint, the system comprising:

• a hip replacement prosthesis comprising:
• a neck that is securable to a femur associated with the hip joint, the neck comprising a superior surface having a first attachment interface;
• an arm extending medially from the neck;
• a stem formed as a separate piece from the neck and configured to extend caudally from the neck into an intramedullary canal of the femur;
• and
• a prosthetic ball comprising an articular surface, wherein the prosthetic ball is couplable to the arm of the hip replacement prosthesis;
• and
• a bone plate comprising:
• a bone engagement surface that is securable to the greater trochanter of the femur on either side of a fracture formed in the greater trochanter of the femur;
• and
• a second attachment interface that is attachable to the first attachment interface of the hip replacement prosthesis in order to couple the bone plate to the hip replacement prosthesis;
• and
• a fastener configured to secure the second attachment interface to the first attachment interface, and to extend through the neck to secure the stem to the neck.

A system for replacing a natural or artificial articular surface of a hip joint and for repairing a greater trochanter associated with the hip joint, the system comprising:

• a hip replacement prosthesis comprising:
• a neck that is securable to a femur associated with the hip joint;
• an arm coupled to the neck such that the arm extends toward an articular surface;
• and
• a first attachment interface formed on a superior surface of the hip replacement prosthesis, the first attachment interface comprising a proximal surface perpendicular to an axis of the femur;
• and
• a bone plate comprising:
• an arm comprising a bone engagement surface that is securable to the greater trochanter of the femur;
• an anterior bone engagement feature protruding anteriorly of the arm;
• a posterior bone engagement feature protruding posteriorly of the arm;
• and
• a second attachment interface that is attachable to the first attachment interface of the hip replacement prosthesis in order to couple the bone plate to the hip replacement prosthesis;
• wherein the bone engagement surface comprises an aperture positioned on the arm between the anterior bone engagement feature and the posterior bone engagement feature such that, with the second attachment interface attached to the first attachment interface, the aperture is centrally positioned on a lateral aspect of the greater trochanter to reduce weight and facilitate flexure of the bone plate into conformity with the lateral aspect of the greater trochanter.