Method for performing knee surgery and retractors for use therein

A femoral distractor for use in performing knee surgery comprising a rod and a handle, said rod having first, second and third sections lying in the same plane, said first section having a cross-sectional size permitting its insertion in the medullary canal of a human femur and extending in a straight line path from a convexly rounded free end to an area of juncture with said second section, said first section having a longitudinal groove extending from said free end toward said area of juncture, said second section being disposed at right angles to said first section and extending along a straight line path from said area of juncture to a corner, said third section extending from said corner along a straight line path generally parallel to said first section and a handle extending from said third section in the same direction.

A femoral distractor for use in performing knee surgery comprising a rod and a handle, said rod having first, second and third sections lying in the same plane, said first section having a cross-sectional size permitting its insertion in the medullary canal of a human femur and extending in a straight line path from a convexly rounded fee end to an area of juncture with said second section, said second section being disposed at right angles to said first section and extending along a straight line path from said area of juncture to a corner, said third section extending from said corner along a straight line path generally parallel to said first section, said area of juncture following a reverse curved path extending from said first section initially away from said third section and then toward said third section, and a handle extending from said third section in the same direction.

A femoral distractor for use in performing knee surgery comprising a unitary rod having first, second and third sections lying in the same plane, said first section having a cross-sectional size permitting its insertion in the medullary canal of a human femur and extending from a convexly rounded free end to an area of juncture with said second section, said first section having a longitudinal groove extending from said free end toward said juncture, said second section being disposed at an angle to said first section and extending along a path from said area of juncture to a corner, said third section extending from said corner along a path generally reverse to that of said first section.

A femoral distractor for use in performing knee surgery comprising a rod and a handle, said rod having first, second and third sections lying in the same plane, said first section having a cross-sectional size permitting its insertion in the medullary canal of a human femur and extending in a straight line path from a convexly rounded free end to an area of juncture with said second section, said first section having a longitudinal groove extending from said free end toward said area of juncture, said second section being disposed at right angles to said first section and extending along a straight line path from said area of juncture to a corner, said third section extending from said corner along a straight line path generally parallel to said first section, said area of juncture following a reverse curved path extending from said first section initially away from said third section and then toward said third section.