Method And Apparatus For Attaching Soft Tissue To Bone

1 . An assembly for attaching soft tissue to a prosthetic implant comprising:

a prosthetic component defining a soft tissue attachment region having an attachment surface thereon;

a first construct removably coupled to the attachment surface;

a second construct positioned outboard of the soft tissue; and

a fastener engaged to the second construct and capturing the soft tissue against the first construct, the fastener coupled on a distal end to the first prosthetic component, wherein at least one of the first and second constructs are formed of porous metal.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the prosthetic component is a femoral component.

3 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first construct defines a first washer having a first aperture formed therein.

4 . The assembly of claim 3 wherein the first washer defines a plurality of extension portions formed on an outboard surface that extend in a direction away from the prosthetic component.

5 . The assembly of claim 4 wherein the second construct defines a second washer having a second aperture formed therein.

6 . The assembly of claim 5 wherein the second washer defines notches formed therein, wherein the plurality of extension portions extend through the notches in an assembled position.

7 . The assembly of claim 6 wherein the notches are defined around a perimeter of the second washer.

8 . The assembly of claim 6 wherein the fastener threadably engages a threaded bore formed in the prosthetic component in the assembled position.

9 . The assembly of claim 6 wherein the extension portions pierce the soft tissue in the assembled position.

10 . The assembly of claim 9 wherein the extension portions define at least one of spikes or raised walls.

11 . The assembly of claim 6 wherein the first and second washers define an arcuately shaped body that conforms to the attachment surface of the prosthetic component.

12 . The assembly of claim 3 wherein the first construct is formed of porous metal and the second construct defines a plurality of extension portions formed on an inboard surface that extends in a direction toward the prosthetic component.

13 . The assembly of claim 2 wherein the soft tissue attachment region is defined on a lateral surface of a lateral condyle of the femoral component and wherein the soft tissue is a lateral collateral ligament (LCL).

14 . The assembly of claim 2 wherein the soft tissue attachment region is defined on a medial surface of a medial condyle of the femoral component and wherein the soft tissue is a medial collateral ligament (MCL).

15 . The assembly of claim 2 wherein the soft tissue attachment region is defined on an interior wall surface of the femoral component and wherein the soft tissue is one of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).

16 . The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second constructs define shapes selected from the group comprising circular, rectangular, and oblong.

17 . A method for securing a soft tissue to a first prosthetic implant, the method comprising:

providing a first prosthetic component defining a threaded bore at a soft tissue attachment region;

providing a first construct formed of porous metal and defining a first aperture;

providing a second construct defining a second aperture;

positioning a soft tissue between the first construct and the second construct;

advancing a fastener through the second aperture and the first aperture; and

further advancing the fastener into the threaded bore such that the soft tissue is progressively captured between the first and second constructs.

18 . The method of claim 17 wherein the further advancing the fastener includes advancing a plurality of extension portions formed on one of the first or second constructs into a plurality of notches formed on the other of the first and second constructs.

19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the further advancing the fastener includes piercing the soft tissue with the extension portions.

20 . The method of claim 18 wherein providing the first construct includes providing a first construct integrally formed with the first prosthetic component.

21 . The method of claim 17 wherein positioning the soft tissue include piercing the soft tissue with at least one piercing member extending at an obtuse angle in a direction generally away from an originating point of the soft tissue.

22 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

removing the fastener from the first prosthetic component;

removing the first construct from the first prosthetic component, the first construct having the soft tissue ingrown within the porous metal;

replacing the first prosthetic component with a second prosthetic component having a second soft tissue attachment region;

locating the first construct with the soft tissue ingrown within the porous metal at the second soft tissue attachment region;

advancing a fastener through the second aperture and the first aperture; and

further advancing the fastener into a second threaded bore defined on the second prosthetic component.

23 . The method of claim 17 wherein providing the prosthetic component includes providing a femoral component wherein the tissue attachment region is defined on a lateral surface of a lateral condyle of the femoral component and wherein the soft tissue is a lateral collateral ligament (LCL).

24 . The method of claim 17 wherein providing the prosthetic component includes providing a femoral component wherein the tissue attachment region is defined on a medial surface of a medial condyle of the femoral component and wherein the soft tissue is a medial collateral ligament (MCL).

25 . The method of claim 17 wherein providing the prosthetic component includes providing a femoral component wherein the tissue attachment region is defined on an interior wall surface of the femoral component and wherein the soft tissue is one of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).