Method for performing an orthopaedic procedure

1. A method for performing an orthopaedic surgical procedure on an acetabulum of a patient, the method comprising:

securing an acetabular shell component to an acetabulum of a patient;

securing a first insert to the acetabular shell component;

allowing the first insert to rotate relative to the acetabular shell component about a first axis;

preventing rotation of the first insert relative to the acetabular shell component about a second axis and a third axis, the first insert having a first set of separate and discrete opposing flats defined in its inner surface on opposing sides of the first insert,

securing a second insert to the first insert such that the outer surface of the second insert contacts the inner surface of the first insert, the second insert having a second set of separate and discrete opposing flats defined in its outer surface on opposing sides of the second insert, and wherein the second set of opposing flats contact the first set of opposing flats defined in the inner surface of the first insert;

allowing relative rotation between the second insert and the first inset about the second axis;

preventing relative rotation between the second insert and the first insert about the first axis and the third axis, the second insert having a third set of separate and discrete opposing flats defined in its inner surface on opposing sides of the second insert, and

securing a femoral head configured to be secured to a femoral stem to the second insert such that the outer surface of the femoral head contacts the inner surface of the second insert, the femoral head having a fourth set of separate and discrete opposing flats defined in its outer surface on opposing sides of the femoral head, and wherein the fourth set of opposing flats contact the third set of opposing flats defined in the inner surface of the second insert;

allowing relative rotation between the femoral head and the second insert about the third axis; and

preventing relative rotation between the femoral head and the second insert about the first axis and the second axis.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of securing the acetabular shell component to the acetabulum of a patient occurs before the steps of securing the first insert to the acetabular shell component, securing the second inset to the first insert, and securing the femoral head to the second insert.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps of securing the first insert to the acetabular shell component and securing the second insert to the first insert occur before the step of securing the acetabular shell component to the acetabulum of the patient.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of securing the acetabular shell component to the acetabulum of the patient includes press fitting, bolting, or cementing the acetabular shell component to the acetabulum.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of allowing the first insert to rotate relative to the acetabular shell component about a first axis includes the step of:

inserting a cylindrical wall extending outwardly from the first insert into an aperture formed in the acetabular shell component.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of allowing the first insert to rotate relative to the acetabular shell component about a first axis includes the step of:

aligning a projection extending outwardly from the acetabular shell component with a recess formed in the first insert.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of allowing the first insert to rotate relative to the acetabular shell component about a first axis includes the step of:

aligning a projection extending outwardly from the first insert with a recess formed in the acetabular shell component.

8. The method of claim 1 , further including the steps of:

orienting the first axis to be orthogonal to the second axis and the third axis; and

orienting the second axis to be orthogonal to the third axis.

9. A method for performing an orthopaedic surgical procedure on an acetabulum of a patient, the method comprising:

securing an acetabular shell component to an acetabulum of a patient;

securing a first insert to the acetabular shell component, such that the first insert is (i) permitted to rotate relative to the acetabular shell component about a first axis, and (ii) prevented from rotating relative to the acetabular shell component about a second axis and a third axis, the first insert having a first set of separate and discrete opposing flats defined in its inner surface on opposing sides of the first insert,

securing a second insert to the first insert such that the outer surface of the second insert contacts the inner surface of the first insert, the second insert having a second set of separate and discrete opposing flats defined in its outer surface on opposing sides of the second insert, and wherein the second set of opposing flats contact the first set of opposing flats defined in the inner surface of the first insert such that the second insert is (i) permitted to rotate relative to the first insert about the second axis, and (ii) prevented from rotating relative to the first insert about the first axis and the third axis, the second insert having a third set of separate and discrete opposing flats defined in its inner surface on opposing sides of the second insert, and

securing a femoral head configured to be secured to a femoral stem to the second insert such that the outer surface of the femoral head contacts the inner surface of the second insert, the femoral head having a fourth set of separate and discrete opposing flats defined in its outer surface on opposing sides of the femoral head, and wherein the fourth set of opposing flats contact the third set of opposing flats defined in the inner surface of the second insert; such that the femoral head is (i) permitted to rotate relative to the second insert about the third axis, and (ii) prevented from rotating relative to the second insert about the first axis and the second axis.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of securing the acetabular shell component to the acetabulum of a patient occurs before the steps of securing the first insert to the acetabular shell component, securing the second inset to the first insert, and securing the femoral head to the second insert.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the steps of securing the first insert to the acetabular shell component and securing the second insert to the first insert occur before the step of securing the acetabular shell component to the acetabulum of the patient.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of securing the acetabular shell component to the acetabulum of the patient includes press fitting, bolting, or cementing the acetabular shell component to the acetabulum.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of allowing the first insert to rotate relative to the acetabular shell component about a first axis includes the step of:

inserting a cylindrical wall extending outwardly from the first insert into an aperture formed in the acetabular shell component.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of allowing the first insert to rotate relative to the acetabular shell component about a first axis includes the step of:

aligning a projection extending outwardly from the acetabular shell component with a recess formed in the first insert.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of allowing the first insert to rotate relative to the acetabular shell component about a first axis includes the step of:

aligning a projection extending outwardly from the first insert with a recess formed in the acetabular shell component.

16. The method of claim 9 , further including the steps of:

orienting the first axis to be orthogonal to the second axis and the third axis; and

orienting the second axis to be orthogonal to the third axis.

17. A method for performing an orthopaedic surgical procedure on the acetabulum of a patient, the method comprising:

securing an acetabular shell component to an acetabulum of a patient;

securing a first insert to an acetabular shell component, such that the first insert is (i) permitted to rotate relative to the acetabular shell component about a first axis, and (ii) prevented from rotating relative to the acetabular shell component about a second axis and a third axis, wherein the first insert having a first set of separate and discrete opposing flats defined in its inner surface on opposing sides of the first insert,

securing a second insert to the first insert such that the outer surface of the second insert contacts the inner surface of the first insert, the second insert having a second set of separate and discrete opposing flats defined in its outer surface on opposing sides of the second insert, and wherein the second set of opposing flats contact the first set of opposing flats defined in the inner surface of the first insert such that the second insert is (i) permitted to rotate relative to the first insert about the second axis, and (ii) prevented from rotating relative to the first insert about the first axis and the third axis; and

securing a femoral head configured to be secured to a femoral stem to the second insert such that the outer surface of the femoral head contacts the inner surface of the second insert.