Femoral prosthesis holder/driver tool and method of implantation using same

A surgical tool for holding and driving an implantable condylar prosthesis of the type having a pair of posterior condyles which define an intercondylar notch opening, an anterior condylar flange and a proximal internal contact surface extending anteriorly from the notch toward the anterior flange and having a ridge that is contoured in a lateral-medial direction, the tool comprising:

• (a) an elongated force-transmitting shaft having opposed ends, including a proximal end adapted for operative contact with the prosthesis and a distal end adapted for driving the shaft to implant the prosthesis onto the distal aspect of a resected femur;
• (b) a pair of cooperating arms pivotally attached to the proximal end of the shaft, the arms including an anteriorly-projecting finger for gripping the prosthesis along the internal contact surface, and lateral and medial fingers, respectively, which are movable toward and away from one another and adapted to engage an internal proximal retaining wall surrounding the notch posteriorly of the proximal contact surface;
• and
• (c) actuating means for advancing the arms within and retracting them out from the notch, including abutment means for exerting on the external surfaces of the distal condyles a force in opposition to the force exerted by the anterior-projecting fingers, so that the lateral and medial fingers engage the proximal internal retaining wall and releasably lock the tool and prosthesis together, causing the arms to be moved apart by the ridge allowing the prosthesis to be manipulated into position on the femur while being driven from the distal end of the tool, then allowing the tool to be disengaged from the implant.