Element for temporarily increasing the rigidity of an orthopaedic prosthesis

A method for implanting an orthopaedic prosthesis into a patient's body, the method comprising:

• inserting a biodegradable element into a recess of a prosthetic body without plastically deforming the prosthetic body, the recess being defined by at least first and second elastic elements;
• substantially preventing deflection of the elastic elements toward each other with the biodegradable element;
• implanting the prosthetic body into the patient's body;
• and
• biodegrading at least a portion of the biodegradable element thereby creating space within the recess;
• and
• wherein the prosthetic body is substantially non-bioreabsorbable.

A method for implanting an orthopaedic prosthesis into a patient's body comprising:

• introducing a prosthetic body into a cavity within a patient's body;
• temporarily increasing the rigidity of a portion of the prosthetic body to reduce relative movement between the prosthetic body and the inner walls of the cavity;
• anchoring the prosthetic body to the inner walls of the cavity;
• after the anchoring step, decreasing the rigidity of said portion of the prosthetic body after the prosthetic body has become substantially fixed to the inner walls of the cavity;
• inserting a biodegradable element into a recess of a prosthetic body without plastically deforming the prosthetic body, and biodegrading at least a portion of the biodegradable element thereby creating space within the recess;
• and
• wherein the biodegradable element is inserted into the recess before the prosthetic body is introduced into the cavity of the patient's body.