TOOL FOR PLACING A MALLEOLAR IMPLANT FOR PARTIAL OR TOTAL ANKLE PROSTHESIS
A method of implanting in a fibula a malleolar implant including a head and a shank. The method comprises the steps of creating a bore in the fibula extending from an inner face to an outer face and applying a traction force to the malleolar implant so that the shank is pulled into the bore.
1 . A method of implanting in a fibula a malleolar implant including a head and a shank, the method comprising the steps of:
creating a bore in the fibula extending from an inner face to an outer face; and
applying a traction force to the malleolar implant so that the shank is pulled into the bore.
2 . The method of claim 1 comprising applying the traction force to the shank.
3 . The method of claim 1 comprising applying the traction force from a location external to the outer face of the fibula.
4 . The method of claim 1 comprising applying the traction force so that the head contacts an astragalus or astragalian prosthetic component when the shank is pulled into the bore.
5 . The method of claim 1 comprising applying the traction force in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bore.
6 . The method of claim 1 comprising inserting a traction member through at least one orifice in the shank and applying the traction force to the traction member.
7 . The method of claim 1 comprising the steps of:
engaging a traction member with the malleolar implant; and
applying the traction force through the bore.
8 . The method of claim 1 comprising selecting one of a plurality of orifices in the shank and inserting the traction member through the selected orifice.
9 . The method of claim 1 comprising applying the traction force to a traction member in a direction away from the head.
10 . The method of claim 1 comprising applying the traction force in a direction away from the head and through at least one bore in the shank.
11 . The method of claim 1 comprising extending a flexible traction member through a bore in the shank and applying the traction force to the flexible traction member in a direction away from the head.
12 . The method of claim 1 comprising aligning the shank with the bore.
13 . The method of claim 1 comprising applying a traction force to the implant so that outer radial flanges on the shank frictionally engage with the bore.
14 . The method of claim 1 comprising creating a bore in the fibula with a diameter substantially the same as a diameter of the shank.
15 . A method of implanting in a fibula a malleolar implant including a shank coupled to a head, the method comprising the steps of:
creating a bore in the fibula extending from an inner face to an outer face;
aligning the shank and the bore; and
applying a traction force to the shank so that the shank is pulled into the bore.
16 . The method of claim 15 comprising inserting a traction member through an orifice in the shank and applying the traction force to the traction member.
17 . The method of claim 15 comprising inserting a flexible traction member through an orifice in the shank and applying the traction force in a direction away from the head and through the bore.
18 . The method of claim 15 applying the traction force in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bore.
19 . The method of claim 15 comprising applying a traction force so that the head contacts an astragalus or astragalian prosthetic component when the shank is pulled into the bore.
20 . The method of claim 15 comprising creating a bore with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the shank.
21 . The method of claim 15 comprising applying the traction force from a location external to the outer face of the fibula.
22 . A method of implanting in a fibula a malleolar implant including a shank coupled to a head, the method comprising the steps of:
creating a bore in the fibula extending from an inner face to an outer face;
inserting a traction member through an orifice in the shank; and
applying a traction force to the traction member in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bore so that the shank is pulled into the bore.
23 . The method of claim 22 comprising the steps of:
extending the traction member away from the head and through the bore; and
applying the traction force to the traction member through the bore.
24 . The method of claim 22 comprising selecting one of a plurality of orifices in the shank and inserting the traction member through the selected orifice.
25 . The method of claim 22 comprising applying the traction force so that the head contacts an astragalus or astragalian prosthetic component when the shank is pulled into the bore.
26 . The method of claim 22 comprising applying the traction force in a direction generally perpendicular to an orifice in the shank.
27 . The method of claim 22 comprising creating the bore with a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of the shank.
28 . The method of claim 22 comprising engaging a flexible traction member with the shank and applying the traction force.
29 . The method of claim 22 comprising applying the traction force from a location external to the outer face of the fibula.
30 . A method of implanting in a fibula a malleolar implant including a shank coupled to a head, the method comprising the steps of:
creating a bore in the fibula extending from an inner face to an outer face;
inserting a traction member through an orifice in the shank;
extending the traction member through the bore from the inner face to the outer face; and
applying a traction force to the traction member from a location external to the outer face of the fibula so that the shank is pulled into the bore.
31 . The method of claim 30 comprising applying the traction force in a direction generally transverse to an elongated axis of the shank.
32 . The method of claim 30 comprising selecting an orifice in the shank from a plurality of orifices and inserting the traction member through the selected orifice.
33 . The method of claim 30 comprising applying the traction force so that the head contacts an astragalus or astragalian prosthetic component when the shank is pulled into the bore.
34 . The method of claim 30 comprising applying the traction force generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bore.
35 . A method of implanting a malleolar implant in a fibula, the method comprising the steps of:
creating a bore in the fibula extending from an inner face to an outer face;
providing a malleolar implant having a shank coupled to a head; and
applying a traction force to the implant from a location external to the outer face of the fibula so that the shank is pulled into the bore.
36 . The method of claim 35 comprising the steps of:
inserting a traction member through an orifice in the shank;
extending the traction member through the bore from the inner face to the outer face of the fibula; and
applying the traction force to the traction member.
37 . The method of claim 35 comprising applying the traction force in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bore.
38 . The method of claim 35 comprising aligning the shank with the bore.
39 . The method of claim 35 comprising frictionally engaging outer radial flanges on the shank with the bore.
40 . The method of claim 35 comprising creating the bore with a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of the shank.
41 . The method of claim 36 comprising selecting an orifice from a plurality of orifices and inserting the traction member through the selected orifice.