Method for performing bone cutting

1. A method for guiding a cutting device to a bone to form chamfer cuts, posterior cuts, and a box cut in the bone, the method comprising:

positioning a cutting guide having a box-cut opening and a base on the bone;

cutting chamfer cuts in the bone along each of a plurality of cutting surfaces disposed at an acute angle relative to a distal surface of the guide;

moving a rotatable mill coupled to the guide along the base by removing the mill from a first hole of a rod rotatably supported on the base and coupling the mill to a second hole of the rod;

pivoting the mill relative to the base within the box-cut opening of the guide;

rotating the mill about a longitudinal axis of the mill while pivoting the mill; and

cutting a box-cut in the bone using the mill.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

cutting posterior cuts along posterior cutting surfaces of the cutting guide.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising engaging a pin attached to the guide into a groove of the rod while pivoting the mill.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising preventing lateral movement of the mill while pivoting the mill.

5. A method for performing a box resection of a bone, the method comprising:

attaching a bone-cutting apparatus to a bone, the bone cutting apparatus including a guide with a box-cut opening and a mill movably coupled to the guide and rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the mill;

moving the mill along a base of the box-cut guide and along a rod spanning the box-cut opening to a first lateral location;

rotating the mill about the longitudinal axis while pivoting the mill away from the base;

engaging a pin attached to the guide into a groove of the rod while pivoting the mill; and

resecting the bone along a first lateral plane with the mill.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

pivoting the mill toward the base;

moving the mill along the rod to a second lateral location;

rotating the mill about the longitudinal axis while pivoting the mill away from the base; and

resecting the bone along a second lateral plane with the mill.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising selecting the first and second lateral locations by using an indexing mechanism coupled to the rod.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising selecting the first and second lateral locations by engaging a ball plunger to corresponding first and second detents on the rod, the ball plunger coupled to the base.

9. The method of claim 5 , further comprising constraining movement of the mill along the rod while pivoting the mill.

10. The method of claim 5 , further comprising cutting chamfer cuts in the bone along each of a plurality of cutting surfaces disposed at an acute angle relative to a distal surface of the guide.

11. The method of claim 5 , further comprising cutting posterior cuts along posterior cutting surfaces of the cutting guide.

12. The method of claim 5 , wherein the box-cut opening is defined by an anterior portion, a first guiding side, a second guiding side, a first posterior flange, and a second posterior flange of the guide.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the guide includes a U-shaped raised rim that extends above the anterior portion of the box-cut opening.

14. The guide of claim 12 , further comprising securing the guide to the bone through first and second apertures on the corresponding first and second guiding sides.

15. The guide of claim 12 , wherein the first guiding side defines two cutting surfaces that intersect each other.