Total ankle prosthesis and method

A total ankle replacement adapted to involve the patient's tibia, talus and fibula comprising:

• (a) a tibial component for mounting on at least a part of a prepared tibial surface, said tibial component comprising an upper portion and a downwardly and outwardly depending medial portion, said medial portion comprising substantially planar outside and inside surfaces, said upper portion comprising substantially planar top and bottom surfaces, said bottom surface of said top portion further comprising a depression, said depression comprising an interior surface, said interior surface of said depression being substantially planar and parallel with said top surface of said upper portion;
• (b) a talar component for mounting on at least a part of a prepared talar surface, said talar component comprising a medial portion having a first outside surface, said talar component further comprising a lateral portion having a second outside surface, said talar component further comprising a main body having an exterior surface, said main body exterior surface comprising a medial arc and a lateral arc, said medial arc and said lateral arc being concentric, said medial arc having a lesser radius than said lateral arc so that said first and second outside surfaces and said exterior surface together substantially approximate the surface of a human talus;
• (c) a fibular component for mounting on at least a part of a prepared fibular surface said fibular component comprising a fibular contacting component having a substantially planar lateral surface, said fibular contacting component having a peripheral configuration generally approximating the peripheral shape of the adjacent lower end of the fibula, said fibular component rather comprising an insert adapted to be affixed in a recess of said fibular contacting component, said insert having a medial component that substantially approximates the natural surface of a human fibula;
• and
• (d) a floating bearing component, said floating bearing component being located between said tibial and talar components, said floating bearing component being configured to limited predetermined fore and aft, medial-lateral and rotational movement with respect to said tibial component, said floating bearing component making full contact with said talar component, said fibular component cooperating with said talar component to substantially retain the normal fibular movements including sliding motion fore and aft, piston-like motion up and down, and rotation.