Ligament retractor
A retractor assembly may include a retractor removably coupled with a retractor handle. The retractor may include a handle connection feature, a retractor shaft, an arcuate projection having a convex retractor surface and a cutting shield surface, and a guide projection having an aperture shaped to receive at least a portion of a femoral condyle therein to position the retractor relative to a tibial plateau. The retractor handle may include a handle portion and a retractor connection feature. The retractor may be placed on a lateral side of a medial collateral ligament of a knee joint to retract the medial collateral ligament away from a tibial plateau of the knee joint and protect the medial collateral ligament during a tibial plateau resection procedure.
1 . A retractor comprising:
a retractor shaft, the retractor shaft comprising:
a proximal end; and
a distal end;
and
a retractor member disposed at the distal end of the retractor shaft, the retractor member comprising:
an arcuate projection, the arcuate projection comprising:
a proximal end coupled to the distal end of the retractor shaft;
a distal end distal to the proximal end;
a superior surface;
an inferior surface;
a retractor surface extending intermediate the superior surface and the inferior surface, the retractor surface comprising a convex curvature; and
a cutting shield surface located opposite the retractor surface and extending intermediate the superior surface and the inferior surface; and
a guide projection coupled to the cutting shield surface, the guide projection comprising:
a superior surface;
an inferior surface; and
an aperture formed through the guide projection between the superior surface and the inferior surface;
wherein the aperture is shaped to receive at least a portion of a femoral condyle therein to position the retractor member relative to a tibial plateau.
2 . The retractor of claim 1 , wherein the superior surface and the inferior surface of the guide projection are configured to taper toward each other moving from the proximal end of the arcuate projection toward the distal end of the arcuate projection.
3 . The retractor of claim 1 , wherein the guide projection further comprises an outer edge intermediate the superior surface and the inferior surface.
4 . The retractor of claim 3 , wherein the outer edge comprises a convex surface.
5 . The retractor of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the arcuate projection further comprises:
a first tip;
a second tip; and
a recess intermediate the first tip and the second tip;
wherein at least one of the first tip, the second tip, and the recess is shaped to guide a medial collateral ligament toward the retractor surface as the retractor member is inserted into a knee joint.
6 . The retractor of claim 1 , further comprising a handle connection feature disposed at the proximal end of the retractor shaft.
7 . The retractor of claim 1 , wherein the retractor shaft comprises:
a first shaft portion extending along a first longitudinal axis;
a second shaft portion extending along a second longitudinal axis; and
a third shaft portion extending along a third longitudinal axis;
wherein the second shaft portion is intermediate the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion, and the third shaft portion is offset from the first shaft portion.