Instrumentation and method for implanting a curved stem tibial tray

1. A punch assembly for use in preparing a tibia bone with a tibia surface for a prosthesis comprising: a static component having a first surface configured to be supported on the tibia surface of the tibia bone and a second surface that is spaced apart from the first surface; a dynamic component that includes a punch having a stem, the dynamic component supported for sliding movement relative to the static component along a generally arcuate path extending between the first and second surfaces of the static component, wherein the static component includes an arcuate support surface that defines the generally arcuate path and includes a third surface that cooperates with the arcuate support surface to define a passage, wherein the third surface generally faces the arcuate support surface of the static component; the third surface is substantially flat, wherein the third surface is substantially parallel and disposed at a distance from an imaginary line that is substantially tangent to the arcuate support surface of the static component; and the dynamic component operable to bypass the static component and to penetrate the tibia surface as the dynamic component travels along the generally arcuate path into the tibia bone to prepare an aperture having an arcuate contour in the tibia bone.

2. The punch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stem has an arcuate contour.

3. The punch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stem includes at least one fin.

4. The punch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stem includes a plurality of teeth.

5. The punch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stem includes an arcuate support surface that corresponds in shape to the arcuate support surface of the static component, the arcuate support surface of the stem being supported for sliding movement against the arcuate support surface of the static component along the generally arcuate path.

6. The punch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the generally arcuate path extends toward a generally posterior, inferior direction into the tibia bone.

7. The punch assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first handle that is removably coupled to the static component, the first handle including a grip portion defining a first axis and a coupling portion defining a second axis, wherein the coupling portion is removably coupled to the static component, and wherein the first axis is offset from the second axis.

8. The punch assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second handle that removably couples to the dynamic component and operable to extract the dynamic component from the tibia bone, wherein the static component is configured to be removably coupled to the tibia bone via a fastener, the second handle including a claw member that enables extraction of the fastener from the tibia bone.

9. The punch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic component is configured to prepare the tibia bone for a knee joint prosthesis.

10. The punch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stem is generally cruciform in shape.

11. The punch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the static component is a bone engaging surface, and wherein the static component includes a fastener that is operable to extend from the bone engaging surface and into the tibia bone, the fastener disposed at a positive acute angle relative to the bone engaging surface.

12. The punch assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a tibial tray with a tibial tray stem having a generally arcuate contour, the tibial tray stem operable to be received in the aperture prepared by the dynamic component.

13. A punch assembly for use in preparing a tibia bone with a tibia surface for a knee joint prosthesis comprising:

a static component having a first surface configured to be supported on the tibia surface of the tibia bone and a second surface that is spaced apart from the first surface, the static component defining a passage partially defined by a first arcuate support surface that defines a generally arcuate path between the first and second surfaces, the passage further defined by a third support surface that is substantially parallel and disposed at a distance from an imaginary line that is substantially tangent to the first arcuate support surface; and

a dynamic component that includes a punch having a stem, the stem having a generally cruciform shape, an arcuate contour, a plurality of teeth, and a second arcuate support surface supported for sliding movement against the first arcuate support surface of the static component along the generally arcuate path to prepare an aperture having an arcuate contour in the tibia bone.

14. The punch assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first surface of the static component is a bone engaging surface, and wherein the static component includes a fastener that is operable to extend from the bone engaging surface and into the tibia bone, the fastener operable to be disposed at a positive acute angle relative to the bone engaging surface.

15. The punch assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a first handle that is removably coupled to the static component, the first handle including a grip portion defining a first axis and a coupling portion defining a second axis, wherein the coupling portion is removably coupled to the static component, and wherein the first axis is offset from the second axis.

16. The punch assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a tibial tray with a tibial tray stem having a generally arcuate contour, the tibial tray stem operable to be received in the aperture prepared by the dynamic component.

17. The punch assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a first handle that is removably coupled to the static component, the first handle including a grip portion defining a first axis and a coupling portion defining a second axis, wherein the coupling portion is removably coupled to the static component, and wherein the first axis is offset from the second axis, the punch assembly further comprising a second handle that removably couples to the dynamic component and operable to extract the dynamic component from the tibia bone, the second handle including a claw member that enables extraction of the fastener from the tibia bone.

18. A punch assembly for use in preparing a tibia bone for a knee joint prosthesis comprising:

a static component that is configured to be removably coupled to the tibia bone via a fastener, the static component including a bone engaging surface, the fastener operable to be disposed at a positive acute angle relative to the bone engaging surface, the static component defining a passage partially defined by a first arcuate support surface that defines a generally arcuate path, the passage further defined by a third support surface that is substantially flat and that is substantially parallel and disposed at a distance from an imaginary line that is substantially tangent to the first arcuate support surface;

a dynamic component that includes a punch having a stem, the stem having a generally cruciform shape, an arcuate contour, a plurality of teeth, and a second arcuate support surface supported for sliding movement against the first arcuate support surface of the static component along the generally arcuate path to prepare an aperture having an arcuate contour in the tibia bone;

a first handle that is removably coupled to the static component, the first handle including a grip portion defining a first axis and a coupling portion defining a second axis, wherein the coupling portion is removably coupled to the static component, and wherein the first axis is offset from the second axis; and

a second handle that removably couples to the dynamic component and operable to extract the dynamic component from the tibia bone, the second handle including a claw member that enables extraction of the fastener from the tibia bone.