Method and apparatus for wrist arthroplasty

1. A method of implanting a prosthesis relative to a carpal complex of a wrist comprising:

providing a carpal implant having a body and including a bone abutment surface and at least one flange extending from the bone abutment surface;

resurfacing at least portions of identified bones of the carpal complex including at least one of a scaphoid, lunate and triquetrum;

locating the bone abutment surface of the carpal implant against the resurfaced portions of the identified bones;

locating a first flange of the at least one flange against the carpal complex;

advancing a first bone screw through a first aperture in the body into one of the identified bones;

advancing a second bone screw through a second aperture in the first flange and into a first bone of the identified bones;

advancing a third bone screw through a third aperture in the first flange and into a second bone of the identified bones, the second bone being distinct from the first bone; and

bending at least one flange extending from an ulnar or radial portion of the body relative to a remainder of the body to a position against a medial or lateral face of the identified bones.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one flange includes the first, a second and a third dorsal flange, and further comprising:

advancing six distinct bone screws into six distinct bones of the carpal complex.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

coupling the carpal implant to a wrist bearing component.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein locating a first flange of the at least one flange against the carpal complex further comprises:

positioning the first flange against a posterior surface of corresponding bones of the carpal complex.

5. A method of implanting a prosthesis relative to a carpal complex of a wrist comprising: providing a carpal implant having a body and including a bone abutment surface and at least one flange extending from the bone abutment surface; resurfacing at least portions of identified bones of the carpal complex including at least one of a scaphoid, lunate and triquetrum; locating the bone abutment surface of the carpal implant against the resurfaced portions of the identified bones; locating a first flange of the at least one flange against the carpal complex; advancing a first bone screw through a first aperture in the body into one of the identified bones; advancing a second bone screw through a second aperture in the first flange and into a first bone of the identified bones; and advancing a third bone screw through a third aperture in the first flange and into a second bone of the identified bones, the second bone being distinct from the first bone; and

bending a supplemental ulnar flange portion to a position against the triquetrum; and

bending a supplemental radial flange portion to a position against a trapezium of the carpal complex.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

advancing a fourth bone screw through a fourth aperture provided in the supplemental ulnar flange portion into the triquetrum; and

advancing a fifth bone screw through a fifth aperture provided in the supplemental radial flange portion into the trapezium.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

bending the first flange relative to the body to conform to the carpal complex.

8. A method of implanting a prosthesis relative to a carpal complex of a wrist comprising:

providing a carpal implant having a body including an ulnar flange and a radial flange;

locating a bone abutment surface of the ulnar flange against a triquetrum of the carpal complex;

locating a bone abutment surface of the radial flange against a scaphoid of the carpal complex; and

locating a first dorsal flange extending from the ulnar flange against a posterior surface of the triquetrum; and bending a supplemental ulnar flange portion to a position against the triquetrum; and bending a supplemental radial flange portion to a position against a trapezium of the carpal complex.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

locating a second dorsal flange extending from the radial flange against a posterior surface of the scaphoid.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

locating a third dorsal flange extending from the body between the ulnar flange and the radial flange against a posterior surface of a lunate of the carpal complex.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

resurfacing at least portions of the scaphoid, lunate and triquetrum;

locating the bone abutment surface of the ulnar flange against the resurfaced portion of the triquetrum; and

locating the bone abutment surface of the radial flange against the resurfaced portion of the scaphoid.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

advancing a first bone screw through a first aperture defined in the ulnar flange into at least the triquetrum;

advancing a second bone screw through a second aperture defined in the first dorsal flange into the triquetrum; and

advancing a third bone screw through a third aperture defined in the first dorsal flange into a hamate of the carpal complex.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

advancing a fourth bone screw through a fourth aperture defined in the radial flange into at least the scaphoid;

advancing a fifth bone screw through a fifth aperture defined in the second dorsal flange into the scaphoid; and

advancing a sixth bone screw through a sixth aperture defined in the second dorsal flange into a trapezoid of the carpal complex.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

advancing a seventh bone screw through a seventh aperture provided in the supplemental ulnar flange portion into the triquetrum; and

advancing an eighth bone screw through an eighth aperture provided in the supplemental radial flange portion into the trapezium.

15. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

coupling the carpal implant to a wrist bearing component.

16. A method of implanting a prosthesis relative to a carpal complex of a wrist comprising:

providing a carpal implant having a body including a first flange at a medial end and a second flange at a lateral end;

resurfacing at least portions of identified bones of the carpal complex including at least one of a scaphoid, lunate and triquetrum;

locating a bone abutment surface of the first flange against the resurfaced portion of a first one of the identified bones;

locating a bone abutment surface of the second flange against the resurfaced portion of a second one of the identified bones;

locating a first dorsal flange extending from the first flange against the first one of the identified bones;

locating a second dorsal flange extending from the second flange against the second one of the identified bones;

locating a third dorsal flange extending from the body between the first flange and the second flange against a third one of the identified bones; and

coupling the carpal implant to a wrist bearing component; and bending a first supplemental flange portion extending from the first flange at the medial end to a position against a medial face of a bone of the carpal complex; and bending a second supplemental flange portion extending from the second flange at the lateral end to a position against a lateral face of a bone of the carpal complex.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein locating the first dorsal flange, second dorsal flange and third dorsal flange further comprises:

locating the first dorsal flange against a posterior surface of the first one of the identified bones;

locating the second dorsal flange against a posterior surface of the second one of the identified bones; and

locating the third dorsal flange against a posterior surface of the third one of the identified bones.