Posterior retractor and method of use for minimally invasive hip surgery

1. A method for using minimally invasive surgery to implant a prosthetic acetabular shell and insert into a natural acetabulum, comprising of:

incising a hip with a minimally invasive incision;

providing a posterior retractor having a handle section and a retracting section, the retracting section includes a paddle with a flare on one side and an elongated prong that extends downwardly from the flare;

positioning the prong against the obturator fossa and the paddle against the ischium;

retracting soft tissue with the retracting section;

positioning the acetabular shell and insert into the natural acetabulum; and closing the incision.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of incising a hip creates the minimally invasive incision with a length of about 2½ inches to about 4 to 5 inches.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of providing the paddle with a body having a width larger than a width of the handle section.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of shielding a sciatic nerve with a paddle.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of providing a flare with a smooth curved shape.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of providing the paddle with a generally straight walled section on the other side oppositely disposed from the flared section.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of providing the prong with a body that curves away from the handle section.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the prong has a length of about 1.6 inches.

9. A method for implanting a prosthetic acetabular component into a natural acetabulum of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

incising a hip to produce an incision with a length of about 2½ inches to about 5 inches to create a surgical site with access to the natural acetabulum;

providing a posterior retraction instrument having a handle section and a retracting section, wherein the retracting section includes paddle with a flare along a first side and a prong extending downwardly from the flare, the prong having a curved shape;

positioning the posterior retraction instrumentation in a posterior portion of the surgical site;

retracting soft tissue with the retracting section;

positioning the acetabular component into the natural acetabulum; and

closing the surgical site and incision.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of providing the retracting section at an angle of about 90° with respect to the handle section.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of providing the handle section with a length of about twice a length of the retracting section.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of providing the paddle with a curved shape forming a shallow channel.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of providing the handle section with a length of about 10.5 inches and the paddle with a length of about 3.0-3.5 inches.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of abutting the paddle against an ischium and the prong against a cotyloid notch.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of shielding a sciatic nerve with a paddle.

16. A method for implanting a prosthetic acetabular component into a natural acetabulum of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

incising the patient with an incision from about 2½ inches to about 5 inches to provide surgical access to the natural acetabulum;

preparing the natural acetabulum to receive the acetabular component;

providing a retractor having an elongated handle section connected to a retracting section, the retracting section including a paddle and a curved prong extending outwardly from the paddle;

positioning the retractor in a posterior aspect of the incision so the paddle abuts an ischium and shields a sciatic nerve;

positioning the acetabular component into the natural acetabulum; and closing the incision.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of positioning the prong against a cotyloid notch of the patient.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of providing the handle section to form an angle of about 90° with the retracting section.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of providing the retracting section with a curved shoulder at a distal portion of the paddle.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of providing the paddle with a recess adjacent one side and a curved flare adjacent another side of the paddle.