Guide Assembly for Lateral Implants and Associated Methods

A system for use with a femoral body implant having a longitudinal axis and a lateral bore at an angle to the longitudinal axis at a proximal end of the femoral body implant, the system comprising:

• an outrigger having an arm portion with a medial end adapted to be coupled to the femoral body implant, and a lateral end having a leg portion extending at an angle from the arm portion so as to be substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the femoral body implant;
• a lateral fastener adapted for insertion into the lateral bore;
• an implantable support plate adapted for attachment relative to a lateral surface of the femur with the lateral fastener;
• an alignment tube extending from the leg portion such that the alignment tube is adapted to be coaxial with the lateral bore and facilitate inserting the lateral fastener into the lateral bore;
• a support configured to maintain a position of the implantable support plate, the support including a pad member configured to engage the implantable support plate and a pair of shaft members each having a first end slidably received in the leg portion and a second end opposite the first end pivotally coupled to the pad member;
• and
• a quick-release system for adjustably maintaining a position of the shaft member relative to the leg portion.

A method, comprising:

• providing a guide assembly having an outrigger with an arm portion, a leg portion, a support pad coupled to the leg portion, and an alignment tube extending from the leg portion;
• coupling a medial end of the outrigger arm portion to a proximal femoral body implanted in a femur such that the alignment tube is coaxial with a lateral bore in the proximal femoral body implant;
• positioning an implantable support plate adjacent to at least a portion of a lateral side of the femur;
• advancing an alignment sleeve against the support plate and tightening to a desired compression;
• forming a bore in the femur coaxial with the lateral bore of the proximal femoral body implant by advancing a drill through the alignment tube until a stop member engages a first end of the alignment tube;
• determining a length of a lateral fastener by determining a position of a marker on the alignment sleeve relative to one of a plurality of indicia on the alignment tube, wherein the one of the plurality of indicia aligned with the marker corresponds to the required length of the lateral fastener;
• engaging the support pad against a side of the support plate opposite the femur by moving a clamp member to a release position and advancing the support pad relative to the leg portion and into engagement with the support plate;
• removing the alignment sleeve;
• and
• inserting the lateral fastener with the required length through the support pad and implantable support plate and into threaded engagement with the lateral bore of the proximal femoral body implant.