Impaction cradle

1 . An impaction cradle for supporting a tibial implant during impaction of an intramedullary stem into an attachment port of the tibial implant along an impaction axis, comprising:

a rectangular base defining a rectangular outer perimeter and having a planar body defining a base plane, the planar body further comprising a top surface, an angled surface recessed from the top surface and oriented transverse to the base plane, and a base surface opposite the angled surface, the angled surface including a first recessed planar segment and a second stepped recessed planar segment that lies closer to the top surface of the planar body than the first recessed planar segment;

wherein the top surface and the base surface are parallel to the base plane;

wherein the angled surface is transverse to the base plane at a transverse angle of about 3 degrees corresponding to a posterior slope of the tibial implant; and

wherein the angled surface is shaped to receive a lateral condyle portion and a medial condyle portion of the tibial implant.

2 . The impaction cradle of claim 1 , wherein the angled surface is recessed from a top surface of the planar body.

3 . The impaction cradle of claim 2 , wherein the top surface is substantially parallel to the base surface.

4 . The impaction cradle of claim 3 , wherein the planar body further comprises a second angled surface recessed from the base surface, the second angled surface configured to receive a cradle element for a femoral implant.

5 . The impaction cradle of claim 1 , wherein the angled surface is shaped to receive and be in contact with a medial articulating surface of the tibial implant and a lateral articulating surface of the tibial implant.

6 . A tibial implant system, comprising:

a tibial implant having an attachment port;

an intramedullary stem configured to be impacted into the attachment port along an impaction axis; and

an impaction cradle, comprising:

a rectangular base defining a rectangular perimeter and having a planar body including an upper planar surface defining a base plane and a lower planar surface opposite the upper planar surface and parallel thereto, the planar body further comprising an angled surface recessed from the upper planar surface and oriented transverse to the base plane to orient the tibial implant such that the impaction axis is generally vertical, the angled surface including a first recessed planar segment and a second stepped recessed planar segment that lies closer to the upper planar surface of the planar body than the first recessed planar segment, wherein the angled surface is shaped to receive a lateral tibial condyle portion and a medial tibial condyle portion of the tibial implant.

7 . The tibial implant system of claim 6 , wherein:

the medial tibial condyle portion comprises a medial articulating surface; and

the lateral tibial condyle portion comprises a lateral articulating surface;

wherein the medial articulating surface and the lateral articulating surface cooperate to define an articulating plane.

8 . The tibial implant system of claim 7 , wherein the angled surface is transverse to the base plane at a transverse angle corresponding to a posterior slope of the tibial implant.

9 . The tibial implant system of claim 8 , wherein the transverse angle is about 3 degrees.

10 . The tibial implant system of claim 7 , wherein the articulating plane is parallel to the angled surface when the tibial implant is received on the impaction cradle.

11 . The tibial implant system of claim 6 , wherein the tibial implant includes a detent located within the attachment port.

12 . The tibial implant system of claim 11 , wherein the intramedullary stem includes a notched portion configured to engage the detent to lock the intramedullary stem to the tibial implant.

13 . A knee implant system, comprising:

a tibial implant having a tibial attachment port;

a tibial intramedullary stem configured to be impacted into the tibial attachment port along a tibial impaction axis; and

an impaction cradle, comprising:

a rectangular base defining a rectangular outer perimeter and having a planar body including an upper planar surface defining a base plane, a lower planar surface opposite the upper planar surface and parallel thereto, a tibial angled surface recessed from the upper planar surface for receiving the tibial implant, and a femoral angled surface for receiving a cradle element;

wherein the tibial angled surface is oriented transverse to the base plane to orient the tibial implant such that the impaction axis is generally vertical;

wherein the tibial angled surface includes a first recessed planar segment and a second stepped recessed planar segment that lies closer to the upper planar surface of the planar body than the first recessed planar segment.

14 . The knee implant system of claim 13 , wherein the impaction cradle further comprises:

a cradle element having at least one femoral support surface for receiving a femoral implant, the femoral support surface defining a femoral support plane.

15 . The knee implant system of claim 14 , further comprising:

a femoral implant having a femoral attachment port; and

a femoral intramedullary stem configured to be impacted into the femoral attachment port along a femoral impaction axis.