Method of implanting a knee prosthesis assembly with a ligament link
A prosthetic knee joint assembly includes a femoral component and a bearing that supports articulation of the femoral component. The assembly further includes a tibial tray. Furthermore, the assembly includes a ligament link operably coupled to the tibial tray or the femoral component via a coupling component. The ligament link extending through the other of the tibial tray or the femoral component to couple to the respective one of the femur or tibia. The ligament link extends between first and second ends and includes an outer wall defining an interior longitudinal passage portion. First and second apertures extend through the wall. The first end extends through the first and second apertures and the longitudinal passage portion to define a first adjustable loop, and the second end extends through the first and second apertures and the longitudinal passage portion to define a second adjustable loop.
1. A method of implanting a prosthetic knee joint assembly comprising:
operably coupling a monolithic femoral condylar component of the knee joint assembly to a femur of a patient and operably coupling a monolithic tibial tray component of the knee joint assembly to a tibia of the patient, wherein the tibial tray component has a first adjustable loop of a ligament link directly attached to it;
coupling a second adjustable loop of the ligament link to the femur via piercing a ligament of the femur; and
selectively adjusting the size of the adjustable loops;
wherein the ligament link extends from a first end to a second end, the ligament link having an outer wall defining an interior longitudinal passage portion, the ligament link also having a first aperture passing through the outer wall and disposed between the first and second ends, the ligament link additionally having a second aperture passing through the outer wall and disposed between the first and second ends, the first end extending through the first and second apertures and the longitudinal passage portion to define the first adjustable loop, the second end extending through the first and second apertures and the longitudinal passage portion to define the second adjustable loop.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first adjustable loop of the ligament link is directly attached to the tibial tray component through holes in the tibial tray component before implantation surgery.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the holes in the tibial tray component are located at an anterior portion of the tibial tray component and the method further comprises decreasing the size of the first adjustable loop by pulling on an end of the ligament link.
4. A method f implanting a prosthetic knee joint assembly comprising:
operably coupling a femoral component of the knee joint assembly to a femur of a patient;
operably coupling a tibial component of the knee joint assembly to a tibia of the patient, wherein the tibial component has a first adjustable loop of a ligament link directly attached to it, wherein the ligament link extends from a first free end to a second free end, the ligament link having an outer wall defining an interior longitudinal passage portion, the ligament link having a first aperture passing through the outer wall and disposed between the first and second free ends, the ligament link having a second aperture passing through the outer wall and disposed between the first and second free ends, the first free end extending through the first and second apertures and the longitudinal passage portion to define the first adjustable loop, the second free end extending through the first and second apertures and the longitudinal passage portion to define a second adjustable loop;
coupling the ligament link to a ligament portion by:
piercing the ligament portion with the ligament link or with a suture or other fastener;
extending the longitudinal passage portion of the ligament link through the ligament portion, suture or other fastener;
folding the longitudinal passage portion such that the second adjustable loop extends towards the tibial component; and
applying tension to the ligament link by pulling on at least one of the first free end and the second free end of the ligament link to reduce a size of at least one of the first and second adjustable loops.
5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein extending the longitudinal passage portion of the ligament link through the ligament portion includes extending the longitudinal passage portion of the ligament link through a portion of an anterior cruciate ligament; and the method further comprises coupling the second adjustable loop to the tibial component.
6. A method of implanting a prosthetic knee joint assembly comprising:
operably coupling a femoral component of the knee joint assembly to a femur of a patient;
operably coupling a tibial component of the knee joint assembly to a tibia of the patient;
operably coupling a ligament link to the femur; and
operably coupling an adjustable loop of the ligament link directly to the tibial component via a ligament link coupling component included on the tibial component, the ligament link coupling component being at least one recess, groove, or eyelet that selectively opens and closes, the ligament link extending from a first end to a second end, the ligament link having an outer wall defining an interior longitudinal passage portion, the ligament link also having a first aperture passing through the outer wall and disposed between the first and second ends, the ligament link additionally having a second aperture passing through the outer wall and disposed between the first and second ends, the first end extending through the first and second apertures and the longitudinal passage portion to define a first adjustable loop, the second end extending through the first and second apertures and the longitudinal passage portion to define a second adjustable loop.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising determining if an anatomical ligament is damaged, and resecting at least a portion of the anatomical ligament, and wherein operably coupling the ligament link to the femur includes operably coupling the ligament link to the resected anatomical ligament.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises operably coupling the first adjustable loop of the ligament link to the tibial component and operably coupling the second adjustable loop of the ligament link to a fastener positioned in a bone tunnel of the femur.