Modular prosthetic abutment system

1. An abutment system configured to operatively couple an implant stem to a prosthesis positioned external to a selected bone of a subject, the implant stem configured for positioning within a prepared site of the selected bone and surrounding soft tissue of the subject, the abutment system having a common longitudinal axis, the abutment system comprising:

a base element having only one flange and an elongate shaft secured to the flange, the flange having a first surface, an opposed second surface, and an outer edge extending between the first and second surfaces, the first surface of the flange defining a proximal end of the base element, the proximal end of the base element configured for operative coupling to the implant stem, the elongate shaft extending from a central portion of the flange away from the base element in a distal direction relative to the common longitudinal axis of the abutment system;

a plurality of interlocking sleeve elements surrounding the elongate shaft of the base element, the plurality of interlocking sleeve elements configured to be positioned external to the bone but within the subject, each sleeve element of the plurality of sleeve elements defining a central bore that receives the elongate shaft of the base element, the plurality of sleeve elements comprising a proximal sleeve element and a distal sleeve element, wherein the proximal sleeve element engages the flange of the base element, each sleeve element of the plurality of sleeve elements being positioned in selective, removable engagement with adjacent sleeve elements of the plurality of sleeve elements, wherein the outer surface of the distal portion of at least one sleeve element of the plurality of sleeve elements is configured to promote soft-tissue integration;

and an end cap configured for engagement with the distal sleeve element of the plurality of sleeve elements, the end cap having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal and distal portions of the end cap having respective outer surfaces, the distal portion of the end cap defining a distal end of the end cap, the distal end of the end cap being configured for engagement with the external prosthesis.

2. The abutment system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sleeve elements comprises at least one intermediate sleeve element positioned between the proximal and distal sleeve elements relative to the common longitudinal axis of the abutment system.

3. The abutment system of claim 2 , wherein each sleeve element of the plurality of sleeve elements has a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the proximal and distal portions of each sleeve element have respective inner and outer surfaces, and wherein the inner surfaces of the proximal and distal portions of each sleeve element cooperate to define the central bore of the sleeve element.

4. The abutment system of claim 3 , wherein the inner surface of the proximal portion of the proximal sleeve element defines a cavity that receives the flange of the base element.

5. The abutment system of claim 4 , wherein the outer edge of the flange of the base element is positioned in threaded engagement with the inner surface of the proximal portion of the proximal sleeve element.

6. The abutment system of claim 4 , wherein the outer surface of the proximal portion of each intermediate sleeve element of the at least one intermediate sleeve element is received within the central bore of an adjacent sleeve element positioned proximally relative to the at least one intermediate sleeve element, wherein the adjacent sleeve element is selected from the group consisting of the proximal sleeve element and another intermediate sleeve element, and wherein the at least one intermediate sleeve element is positioned in removable engagement with the inner surface of the distal portion of the adjacent sleeve element.

7. The abutment system of claim 6 , wherein the outer surface of the proximal portion of each intermediate sleeve element is positioned in threaded engagement with the inner surface of the distal portion of the adjacent sleeve elements.

8. The abutment system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one intermediate sleeve element comprises a single intermediate sleeve element, the outer surface of the proximal portion of the intermediate sleeve element being positioned in threaded engagement with the inner surface of the distal portion of the proximal sleeve element, wherein the outer surface of the proximal portion of the distal sleeve element is positioned in threaded engagement with the inner surface of the distal portion of the intermediate sleeve element, wherein the inner surface of the distal portion of the distal sleeve element is positioned in threaded engagement with the outer surface of the proximal portion of the end cap.

9. The abutment system of claim 8 , wherein the distal portions of the intermediate and distal sleeve elements have respective lengths relative to the common longitudinal axis, and wherein the length of the distal portion of the intermediate sleeve element is less than the length of the distal portion of the distal sleeve element.

10. The abutment system of claim 8 , wherein the end cap comprises a prosthesis docking portion positioned between the proximal and distal portions of the end cap relative to the common longitudinal axis of the abutment system, wherein, upon threaded engagement between the outer surface of the proximal portion of the end cap and the inner surface of the distal sleeve element, the prosthesis docking portion of the end cap is flush with the outer surface of the distal portion of the distal sleeve element.

11. The abutment system of claim 8 , wherein, following engagement between the intermediate sleeve element and the distal sleeve element, the outer surfaces of the distal portions of the intermediate and distal sleeve elements are flush.

12. The abutment system of claim 3 , wherein the outer surface of the distal portion of the proximal sleeve element is sloped inwardly relative to the common longitudinal axis of the abutment system moving away from the proximal portion of the proximal sleeve element.

13. The abutment system of claim 3 , wherein the proximal sleeve element comprises a lip circumferentially surrounding the central bore of the distal portion of the proximal sleeve element and protruding from the outer surface of the distal end portion relative to the common longitudinal axis of the abutment system.

14. The abutment system of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the distal portion of at least one sleeve element of the plurality of sleeve elements comprises a porous material.

15. The abutment system of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the distal portion of at least one sleeve element of the plurality of sleeve elements is configured to inhibit bio-adhesion.

16. The abutment system of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the distal portion of at least one sleeve element of the plurality of sleeve elements is configured to promote bio-adhesion and soft-tissue integration.

17. The abutment system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of the distal portion of each sleeve element of the plurality of sleeve elements comprises a porous material.

18. The abutment system of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the distal portion of the proximal sleeve element comprises a first material, and wherein the outer surface of the distal portion of at least one other sleeve element of the plurality of sleeve elements comprises a material that is different from the first material.

19. The abutment system of claim 1 , wherein the elongate shaft of the base element is integrally formed with the flange of the base element.

20. The abutment system of claim 1 , wherein the elongate shaft of the base element is configured for removable coupling to the flange of the base element.

21. The abutment system of claim 1 , wherein the end cap defines a cavity that receives a distal portion of the elongate shaft of the base element.

22. The abutment system of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the end cap is closed.

23. A method of operatively coupling an implant stem to a prosthesis positioned external to a selected bone of a subject, comprising:

positioning the implant stem within a prepared site of the selected bone and surrounding soft tissue of the subject,

operatively coupling an abutment system to the implant stem, the abutment system positioned external to the bone but internal to the subject, the abutment system having a common longitudinal axis and comprising a plurality of interlocking sleeve elements and an end cap, the plurality of interlocking sleeve elements comprising a proximal sleeve element and a distal sleeve element, wherein the proximal sleeve element is operatively coupled to the implant stem, wherein each sleeve element of the plurality of sleeve elements is positioned in selective, removable engagement with adjacent sleeve elements of the plurality of sleeve elements, wherein the abutment system further comprises a base element having only one flange and an elongate shaft secured to the flange, the flange having a first surface, an opposed second surface, and an outer edge extending between the first and second surfaces, the first surface of the flange defining a proximal end of the base element, wherein the elongate shaft extends from a central portion of the flange away from the base element in a distal direction relative to the common longitudinal axis of the abutment system, wherein the elongate shaft is received within the central bore of each sleeve element of the plurality of sleeve elements, and wherein the outer surface of the distal portion of at least one sleeve element of the plurality of sleeve elements is configured to promote soft-tissue integration; positioning the end cap of the abutment system in engagement with the distal sleeve element of the plurality of sleeve elements; and securing the external prosthesis to the end cap of the abutment system.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising:

selectively removing at least one sleeve element of the plurality of sleeve elements.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the method does not comprise removal of the implant stem from the prepared site.

26. The method of claim 23 , further comprising:

selectively replacing at least one original sleeve element of the plurality of sleeve elements with a corresponding substitute sleeve element.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the outer surface of the distal portion of the at least one original sleeve element comprises a first material, and wherein the outer surface of the distal portion of the substitute sleeve element comprises a material that is different from the first material.

28. The method of claim 23 , wherein the end cap has a closed distal end.