Alignment instruments and methods for use in total ankle replacement

1. A surgical method, comprising:

providing a joint-line referencing system, comprising:

an alignment arm comprising a body having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion and said second portion defining a first side and a second side, said first portion having at least one first through-hole extending from said first side to said second side, the second portion having at least one first opening on said first side;

a first linear member receivable in said at least one first through-hole;

an angelwing alignment member having a portion receivable in said at least one first opening of said alignment arm; and

an alignment foot secured to said second portion, said alignment foot comprising a handle extending away from said first side and a shim extending away from said second side;

placing the shim of the alignment foot adjacent to a joint between a tibia and a talus of a patient;

inserting the first linear member in the at least one first through-hole of the alignment arm;

moving the handle of the alignment foot to position or orient the alignment arm;

inserting a first pin into a passageway of the first linear member and into the tibia of the patient; and

removing the joint-line referencing system from the joint and the first pin.

2. The surgical method of claim 1 , further comprising installing a tibia alignment guide on the installed pin.

3. The surgical method of claim 1 , wherein the first linear member is a pin tube guide member.

4. The surgical method of claim 1 , wherein the first linear member comprises the passageway extending therethrough.

5. The surgical method of claim 1 , further comprising:

inserting a second linear member in a second through-hole of the alignment arm.

6. The surgical method of claim 5 , wherein the second through-hole is positioned below the first through-hole.

7. The surgical method of claim 6 , wherein the second linear member is a pin tube guide member and comprises a passageway extending therethrough.

8. A surgical method, comprising:

providing a joint-line referencing system, comprising:

an alignment arm comprising:

a body having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion comprises at least one first through-hole, at least one second through-hole, and the second portion comprises at least one opening;

a first linear member and a second linear member;

an angelwing alignment member having a portion receivable in the at least one opening of said alignment arm; and

an alignment foot secured to said second portion of the body, said alignment foot having a handle and a shim extending away from the alignment foot;

placing the shim of the alignment foot adjacent to a joint between a tibia and a talus of a patient;

inserting the first linear member into the at least one first through-hole and the second linear member in the at least one second through-hole;

moving the handle of the alignment foot to position or orient the alignment arm; and

removing the joint-line referencing system from the joint.

9. The surgical method of claim 8 , wherein the body of the alignment arm comprises a first portion and a second portion, said first portion and said second portion defining a first side and a second side.

10. The surgical method of claim 9 , wherein the handle extends away from the first side and the shim extends away from the second side.

11. The surgical method of claim 8 , wherein the first and second linear members are pin tube guide members.

12. The surgical method of claim 11 , further comprising:

inserting a first pin into a passageway of the first linear member; and

inserting a second pin into a passageway of the second linear member.

13. The surgical method of claim 12 , further comprising:

installing an alignment system on at least one of the first and second pins, wherein at least one of the first and second pins are coupled with the tibia of a patient.

14. The surgical method of claim 8 , wherein removing the joint-line referencing system further comprises simultaneously removing the shim from a position adjacent to the joint and the alignment arm from a first pin.

15. A surgical method comprising:

providing a joint-line referencing system, comprising:

an alignment arm;

a first linear member and a second linear member;

an angelwing alignment member; and

an alignment foot secured to said alignment arm, said alignment foot comprising a shim and a handle;

placing the shim of the alignment foot adjacent to a joint between a tibia and a talus of a patient;

inserting the first linear member into a first through-hole of the alignment arm;

inserting a first pin into a passageway of the first linear member;

inserting the second linear member into a second through-hole of the alignment arm;

inserting a second pin into a passageway of the second linear member;

moving the handle of the alignment foot to position or orient the alignment arm; and

removing the joint-line referencing system from the joint.

16. The surgical method of claim 15 , wherein the first and second linear members are pin tube guide members.

17. The surgical method of claim 15 , wherein the moving is based on a position or an orientation of an angelwing alignment member operably attached to the alignment arm.

18. The surgical method of claim 15 , wherein the moving is based on a position or an orientation of a rod operably attached to the angelwing alignment member.

19. The surgical method of claim 15 , further comprising projecting a laser line from a laser device operably attached to the alignment arm, and wherein the moving is based on a position or an orientation of the laser line.

20. The surgical method of claim 15 , further comprising installing an alignment guide on at least one of the first and second pins.