Alignment instruments and methods for use in total ankle replacement

1. A surgical method, comprising:

providing a joint-line referencing system;

placing a shim of an alignment foot of the joint-line referencing system adjacent to a joint between a tibia and a talus of a patient;

inserting a first linear member of the joint-line referencing system in at least one first through-hole of an alignment arm of the joint-line referencing system;

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

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

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

attaching a cutting guide to an alignment guide installed on the first pin to resect at least a portion of the tibia or the talus.

2. The surgical method of claim 1 , wherein the alignment guide is a tibia alignment guide, and wherein the surgical method further comprises:

installing the tibia alignment guide on the installed first pin.

3. The surgical method of claim 1 , wherein the joint-line referencing system comprises:

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

wherein the 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;

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

wherein the alignment foot is secured to said second portion; and

wherein said handle of said alignment foot extending away from said first side and the shim extending away from said second side.

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

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;

placing a shim of an alignment foot of the joint-line referencing system adjacent to a joint between a tibia and a talus of a patient;

inserting a first linear member of the joint-line referencing system into a first through-hole and a second linear member of the joint-line referencing system in a second through-hole;

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

removing the joint-line referencing system from the joint leaving at least one pin; and

attaching a cutting guide to an alignment system installed on the at least one pin to resect at least a portion of the joint.

9. The surgical method of claim 8 , wherein the joint-line referencing system further comprises:

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

wherein the alignment arm comprises:

a body having a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first portion and said second portion defining a first side and a second side, wherein the first portion comprises at least one first through-hole and at least one second through-hole, and

wherein the second portion comprises the at least one opening;

wherein the alignment foot is secured to said second portion of the body, wherein the shim extends away from the alignment foot.

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 of the at least one pin into a passageway of the first linear member; and

inserting a second pin of the at least one pin into a passageway of the second linear member.

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

installing the 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 a 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 the first pin.

15. A surgical method comprising:

providing a joint-line referencing system;

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

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

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

inserting a 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 a handle of the alignment foot to position or orient the alignment arm;

removing the joint-line referencing system from the joint; and

attaching a cutting guide to an alignment guide installed on at least one of the first pin and the second pin to resect at least a portion of the tibia or the talus.

16. The surgical method of claim 15 , wherein the joint-line referencing system further comprises:

an angelwing alignment member;

wherein the alignment foot is secured to said alignment arm; and

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 an 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.