Prosthetic joint for total knee replacement

A joint prosthesis comprising a first prosthetic member for fixation to a first skeleton element and including a convexly shaped articulation surface for location at the distal end of said first skeleton element, a second prosthetic member for fixation to a second skeleton element adjacent said first skeleton element, and having a boss extending upward therefrom said boss having an aperture extending therethrough link means interconnecting first and second prosthetic members for pivotal movement relative to one another, a removable plateau secured to said second prosthetic member having a recess to receive said boss and prevent rotational movement of said plateau relative to said second prosthetic member and including a front wall portion immediately in front of said boss to define an end wall surface of said recess, aligned apertures extending through said front wall portion and said boss and said member providing an engagement surface for said first prosthetic member, said link means pivotally connecting said first and second prosthetic members to provide a sliding engagement between said convexly shaped articulation surface and said engagement surface of said plateau, and removable fastener means including a threaded shaft having one end thereof split, a chamfer formed at one end of said boss to receive the split end of the threaded shaft, whereby the split end can be spread to retain the threaded shaft in position, said shaft extending through said aligned apertures of said plateau and said boss to retain said plateau to said second prosthetic member, whereby said plateau can be selectively removed and replaced when worn.