Modular prosthetic component with improved body shape

1. A body element for use in a modular prosthetic femoral stem component comprising a body element and a stem element, wherein said body element and said stem element are joined together by at least one modular connection, wherein said body element comprises:

an anterior wall and a posterior wall, at least one of said anterior wall and said posterior wall converging toward the other on a medial side of said body element and diverging away from the other on a lateral side of said body element; and

said body element further comprising a lateral wall and a medial wall extending between said anterior wall and said posterior wall, said lateral and medial walls being generally parallel to each other;

wherein vertices of said body element have a rounded configuration and wherein said body element is configured to substantially approximate the profile of a medullary canal of a resected femur so as to anchor said modular prosthetic femoral stem component therein.

2. An improved body element for use in a modular prosthetic femoral stem component of the sort comprising a body element and a stem element, wherein said body element and said stem element are joined together by at least one modular connection, wherein said body element comprises:

an anterior wall and a posterior wall, at least one of said anterior wall and said posterior wall converging toward the other on a medial side of said body element and diverging away from the other on a lateral side of said body element, whereby said body element approximates a general wedge shape configured to substantially approximate the profile of a medullary canal of a resected femur so as to anchor said modular prosthetic femoral stem component therein;

wherein said body element further comprises a lateral aspect extending between said anterior wall and said posterior wall;

wherein said body element further comprises a medial aspect extending between said anterior wall and said posterior wall;

wherein said body element comprises a generally trapezoidal configuration;

wherein vertices of said body element have a rounded configuration; and

wherein said medial aspect is substantially flat.

3. An improved modular prosthetic femoral stem component comprising:

a body element and a stem element, wherein said body element and said stem element are joined together by at least one modular connection;

wherein said body element comprises an anterior wall and a posterior wall, at least one of said anterior wall and said posterior wall converging toward the other on a medial side of said body element and diverging away from the other on a lateral side of said body element, whereby the body element approximates a general wedge shape configured for seating within a medullary canal of a resected femur; and

wherein said body element comprises a lateral wall and a medial wall extending between said anterior wall and said posterior wall, said lateral wall and said medial wall being generally parallel to one another;

said body element comprising a generally trapezoidal configuration; and

vertices of said body element having a rounded configuration.

4. An improved prosthetic total hip joint comprising a modular prosthetic femoral stem component of the sort comprising a body element and a stem element, wherein said body element and said stem element are joined together by at least one modular connection, wherein said body element comprises:

an anterior wall and a posterior wall, at least one of said anterior wall and said posterior wall converging toward the other on a medial side of said body element and diverging away from the other on a lateral side of said body element, whereby said body element approximates a general wedge shape configured for seating within a medullary canal of a resected femur;

wherein said body element further comprises a lateral aspect extending between said anterior wall and said posterior wall;

wherein said body element further comprises a medial aspect extending between said anterior wall and said posterior wall;

wherein said lateral aspect and said medial aspect are generally parallel to one another;

wherein said body element comprises a generally trapezoidal configuration; and

wherein vertices of said body element have a rounded configuration.

5. An improved body element according to claim 4 wherein said anterior wall is substantially flat.

6. An improved body element according to claim 4 wherein said posterior wall is substantially flat.

7. An improved body element according to claim 4 wherein said lateral aspect is substantially flat.

8. An improved body element according to claim 4 wherein said medial aspect is substantially flat.

9. An improved prosthetic total hip joint comprising:

a modular prosthetic stem component and a prosthetic acetabular cup component, wherein said modular prosthetic stem component comprises a body element and a stem element, wherein said body element and said stem element are joined together by at least one modular connection;

and further wherein said body element comprises an anterior wall and a posterior wall, at least one of said anterior wall and said posterior wall converging toward the other on a medial side of said body element and diverging away from the other on a lateral side of said body element, whereby said body element approximates a general wedge shape configured for seating within a medullary canal of a resected femur;

wherein said body element comprises a lateral wall and a medial wall extending between said anterior wall and said posterior wall, said lateral wall and said medial wall being generally parallel to one another;

said body element comprising a generally trapezoidal configuration; and

vertices of said body element having a rounded configuration.

10. An improved method for restoring a hip joint, said method comprising:

providing an improved prosthetic total hip joint comprising:

a modular prosthetic stem component and a prosthetic acetabular cup component, wherein said modular prosthetic stem component comprises a body element and a stem element, wherein said body element and said stem element are joined together by at least one modular connection;

wherein said body element comprises an anterior wall and a posterior wall, at least one of said anterior wall and said posterior wall converging toward the other on a medial side of said body element and diverging away from the other on a lateral side of said body element, whereby said body element approximates a general wedge shape configured for seating within a medullary canal of a resected femur;

wherein said body element comprises a lateral wall and a medial wall extending between said anterior wall and said posterior wall, said lateral wall and said medial wall being generally parallel to one another;

said body element comprising a generally trapezoidal configuration; and

vertices of said body element having a rounded configuration; and

deploying said improved prosthetic total hip joint in a patient.