Hinged orthopaedic prosthesis

1. A hinged knee prosthesis comprising:

a femoral component configured to be coupled to a femur and including a body and a side wall having an elongated slot formed therein,

a tibial component configured to be coupled to a tibia and defining a cavity,

a polymer bearing component positioned between the femoral component and the tibial component, the bearing component having (i) a medial bearing surface configured to articulate with a medial condyle surface of the femoral component and (ii) a lateral bearing surface configured to articulate with a lateral condyle surface of the femoral component, and

a hinge assembly to pivotably couple the femoral component to the tibial component and to substantially prevent anterior/posterior movement of the bearing component with respect to the tibial component, the hinge assembly including (i) a piston configured to be received within the cavity of the tibial component and (ii) a hinge pin received through a bore formed in the piston and the elongated slot of the femoral component, the hinge pin to translate along the elongated slot relative to the femoral component to provide a variable axis of rotation for the femoral component.

2. The hinged knee prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein

the bearing component includes an aperture and the piston is received through the aperture of the bearing component, and

the piston of the hinge assembly interfaces with the aperture of the bearing component and cavity of the tibial component to prevent substantial anterior/posterior movement of the bearing component with respect to the tibial component.

3. The hinged knee prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein:

the femoral component includes a second side wall spaced-apart from the side wall, the second side wall including a second elongated slot, and

the hinge pin is received through the second elongated slot.

4. The hinged knee prosthesis of claim 3 , wherein:

the piston includes a head and a shaft coupled to the head such that the bore of the piston is formed through the head of the piston, and

the head of the piston is positioned between the side walls of the femoral component.

5. The hinged knee prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the hinge pin is made from metal, the femoral component is made from metal, and the piston is made from metal.

6. The hinged knee prosthesis of claim 5 , wherein the hinge assembly further includes a polymer bearing coupled to the pin and positioned between the pin and the portion of the femoral component defining the slot.

7. The hinged knee prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the hinge assembly further includes a slot cover configured to be coupled to the femoral component in order to cover the elongated slot.

8. The hinged knee prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the elongated slot is generally straight.

9. The hinged knee prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the elongated slot includes an anterior end and a posterior end positioned superiorly from the anterior end.

10. A hinged knee prosthesis comprising:

a femoral component configured to be coupled to a femur and including a side wall having an elongated slot formed therein,

a tibial component configured to be coupled to a tibia,

a polymer bearing component positioned between the femoral component and the tibial component, the bearing component having (i) a medial bearing surface configured to articulate with a medial condyle surface of the femoral component and (ii) a lateral bearing surface configured to articulate with a lateral condyle surface of the femoral component, and

a hinge assembly to pivotably couple the femoral component to the tibial component, the hinge assembly including a hinge pin received through the elongated slot of the femoral component, the hinge pin to translate along the elongated slot as the femoral component and tibial component move between an extended position and a flexed position, wherein

the bearing component is coupled to the tibial component such that flexion of the hinged knee prosthesis between the extended position and the flexed position to substantially prevent anterior/posterior movement of the bearing component with respect to the tibial component.

11. The hinged knee prosthesis of claim 10 , wherein the elongated slot is curved.

12. The hinged knee prosthesis of claim 11 , wherein a curvature of the elongated slot is the same as a curvature of a condylar member of the femoral component.

13. The hinged knee prosthesis of claim 10 , wherein the elongated slot is straight.

14. The hinged knee prosthesis of claim 10 , wherein the hinge assembly further includes a piston having a bore formed therein and the hinge pin is received through the bore.

15. The hinged knee prosthesis of claim 14 , wherein

the piston includes a head having the bore formed therein and a stem coupled to the head and received within an elongated cavity of the tibial component,

the bearing component includes an aperture formed therethrough and the piston is received through the aperture, and

the piston interfaces with the aperture of the bearing component and the elongated cavity of the tibial component to substantially prevent anterior/posterior movement of the bearing component with respect to the tibial component.

16. The hinged knee prosthesis of claim 14 , wherein

the bearing component includes an aperture formed therethrough and a stem received within an elongated cavity of the tibial component,

the piston is received through the aperture of the bearing component, and

the stem of the bearing component interfaces with the elongated cavity of the tibial component to substantially prevent anterior/posterior movement of the bearing component with respect to the tibial component.

17. The hinged knee prosthesis of claim 10 , wherein the bearing component includes a spine positioned between a medial bearing surface and a lateral bearing surface of the bearing.

18. The hinged knee prosthesis of claim 17 , wherein the spine of the bearing component includes a bore formed therethrough and the hinge pin of the hinge assembly is received through the bore.

19. The hinged knee prosthesis of claim 17 , wherein the femoral component includes a second side wall having a second elongated slot, and wherein the spine of the bearing component is positioned between the side walls of the femoral component.

20. A hinged knee prosthesis of claim 10 , wherein the femoral component and the bearing component are configured to rotate together relative to the tibial component about an axis through a stem of the tibial component.

21. A hinged prosthetic joint for accommodating articulation between a first bone and a second bone, the joint comprising:

a first component configured to be attached to the first bone, the first component having a body comprising a side wall and an elongated slot formed in the side wall of the body,

a second component configured to be attached to the second bone,

a polymer bearing component positioned between the first component and the second component, the bearing component having (i) a medial bearing surface configured to articulate with a medial condyle surface of the femoral component and (ii) a lateral bearing surface configured to articulate with a lateral condyle surface of the femoral component, and

a hinge assembly including a hinge pin received within the slot of the first component, the hinge pin to provide a variable axis of rotation for the first component as the joint is moved between extended position and a flexed position, wherein

anterior/posterior movement of the bearing component is inhibited substantially as the hinged prosthetic joint is flexed between an extended position and a flexed position.