Hinged articulating spacer system for revision knee arthroplasty

A method of performing a revision total knee arthroplasty, the method comprising:

• removing a total knee arthroplasty prosthesis from a knee joint of a patient, thereby creating a joint space;
• and
• implanting, temporarily and after said removing the total knee arthroplasty prosthesis, a hinged articulating spacer system into the joint space, wherein said implanting a hinged articulating spacer system includes:
• coupling a femoral component to a distal end portion of a femur of the knee joint, wherein the femoral component includes a pre-formed femoral articulating spacer that is pre-loaded with an antibiotic, and a fork coupler coupled to the femoral articulating spacer;
• coupling a tibial component to a proximal end portion of a tibia of the knee joint, wherein the tibial component includes a pre-formed tibial articulating spacer that is pre-loaded with an antibiotic, and a male coupler coupled to the tibial articulating spacer;
• inserting the male coupler between tines of the forked coupler so that transverse openings in the male coupler and the forked coupler are aligned;
• and
• hingedly coupling the male coupler to the forked coupler by inserting a hinge pin through the aligned openings of the male coupler and the forked coupler,
• wherein the male and forked couplers extend through the pre-formed femoral and tibial articulating spacers when the male and forked couplers are hingedly coupled to one another,
• wherein the tibial component is configured to articulate with the femoral component when the male and forked couplers are hingedly coupled to one another.