Ankle replacement system and method

1. A method comprising:

(a) locking a position adjustment device having a tool holder to at least two pins projecting from respective anterior facing locations near a distal end of a tibia of a patient;

(b) adjusting the position adjustment device;

(c) locking the position adjustment device with the tool holder at first coordinates in the proximal-distal and medial-lateral directions;

(d) resectioning the distal end of the tibia with a tool positioned on the tool holder, while the tool holder is in the first coordinates in the proximal-distal and medial-lateral directions;

(e) removing the tool from the tool holder; and

(f) placing a tibia trial on the resectioned tibia using the tool holder, while the tool holder is in the first coordinates in the proximal-distal and medial-lateral directions, the tibia trial having a size and shape of a tibial tray of an ankle replacement system.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising verifying size and shape of the resectioning using the tibia trial, prior to implanting the ankle replacement system.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, before step (f):

(i) attaching the tibia trial to the tool holder; and

(ii) adjusting the position adjustment device to position the tool holder in an anterior-posterior direction, while the tool holder is at the first coordinates in the proximal-distal and medial-lateral directions.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein step (ii) includes translating the tibia trial in the posterior direction until a predetermined portion of the tibia trail contacts an anterior cortex of the tibia.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein steps (i), (ii) and (f) are performed within inserting any additional location fixing pins into the tibia.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

(g) positioning a drill using the tibia trial; and

(h) drilling at least one peg hole in a distal surface of the resectioned tibia, through at least one hole in the tibia trial.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising installing an insert into the tibia trial while the tool holder is in the first coordinates in the proximal-distal and medial-lateral directions, the insert having a concave surface with a size and shape of a prosthetic tibia joint surface of the ankle replacement system.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising positioning a floating trial to permit articulation with the concave surface of the insert trial while the tool holder is in the first coordinates in the proximal-distal and medial-lateral directions, the floating trial having a convex surface with a size and shape of a prosthetic talar dome of the ankle replacement system.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising pinning the floating trial to a talus of the patent, while the floating trial is positioned to permit articulation with the concave surface of the insert trial.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the pinning step includes inserting pins or K-wire through holes in the floating trial, the pins or K-wire suitable for positioning a guide for resectioning the talus.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (b) includes adjusting at least one adjustment screw to position a connection block in at least one of proximal-distal, medial-lateral and anterior-posterior directions, the connection block adapted to hold the tool or the tibia trial.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (d) includes:

mounting a drill guide on the tool holder;

drilling holes using the drill guide to define corners of a resectioning cut to be performed in the tibia.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein step (d) further includes:

mounting a cut guide to the tool holder; and

cutting the bone to connect the drilled holes.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tibia trial comprises:

a plate having a top surface adapted to fit against a distal surface of the resectioned tibia, the plate having a plurality of holes to be used to locate peg holes in the resectioned tibia, the plate having a bottom surface adapted to receive an insert;

an anterior tibia reference member extending from the plate, adapted to contact an anterior surface of the tibia when the tibia trial is properly positioned; and

an anterior mounting portion sized and shaped to be mounted to the tool holder.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the insert comprises:

a top surface adapted to be detachably mounted to the bottom surface of the plate of the tibia trial;

a concave bottom surface with a size and shape of a prosthetic tibia joint surface of the ankle replacement system.

16. The method of claim 15 , a floating trial is inserted to contact the insert, the floating trial comprising:

a member having at least one convex surface with a size and shape of a prosthetic talar dome of the ankle replacement system, to permit articulation with the concave surface of the insert,

the member having a handle for manual positioning of the floating trial,

the handle having a plurality of holes for inserting pins for locating a talar cut guide.