Surgical instrument and method
AssigneeDepuy Ireland Unlimited Company
InventorMichael Rock
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Abstract
An adjustable spacer instrument, kit of parts and surgical methods of use in a knee arthroplasty procedure are described. The adjustable spacer comprises a first member having a substantially planar upper surface and a second member having a substantially planar lower surface. An angular adjustment mechanism is interposed between the first member and the second member, and is operable to adjust the degree of tilt between the upper surface and the lower surface. A releasable lock is provided which can maintain the degree of tilt. The spacer instrument can be used with the knee in extension or flexion to allow various cuts or re-cuts to be made to the tibia or femur while the ligaments are in balance or to balance the ligaments.
Claims9
A method for carrying out a knee arthroplasty procedure, comprising:
- resecting the proximal part of the tibia or the distal part of the femur to produce a substantially flat bone surface;
- placing an adjustable spacer instrument having an upper surface and a lower surface on the flat bone surface in a gap between the tibia and the femur;
- operating the adjustable spacer instrument to vary the degree of tilt between the upper surface and the lower surface;
- and
- assessing the balance of ligaments of the knee.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.