Tibial rotation guide

A method for determining the rotational alignment of a hinged prosthetic knee implant, comprising:

• providing a femoral component having a hinge portion;
• mounting said femoral component on the femur;
• providing a trial tibial template for engagement with a resected proximal tibia;
• providing a trial hinge component;
• releasably connecting the trial hinge component to both the femoral component hinge portion and the trial tibial template;
• and
• setting the rotational alignment of the trial tibial template by contacting the resected proximal tibia with said tibial template and orienting the template to optimize the function of the prosthetic knee implant.

A tibial rotation guide for setting the internal/external rotational alignment of a prosthetic knee implant, said guide comprising:

• a femoral component having a hinge element;
• a tibial template;
• a hinge component;
• and
• a means for releasably coupling said hinge component to said tibial template and said femoral component.

A kit of instruments for setting the rotational alignment of a hinged prosthetic knee implant having a tibial component and a femoral component comprising:

• at least one femoral component having a hinged portion;
• at least one trial tibial template for engaging a resected proximal tibia;
• and
• a plurality of trial hinged components each having a coupling portion for selectively coupling said trial tibial template in an orientation corresponding to the tibial portion of the prosthetic knee implant and having a hinged portion for selectively mating with the hinge portion on said femoral component.