Tibial tray inserter

1. In combination, a tibial tray component of a knee joint implant and an inserter for inserting the tray component into a surgical site between a tibia and a femur, the tibia and femur being prepared to receive the knee joint implant by cutting away portions of the bones to form a gap between the bones of a predetermined width, the tibia having a longitudinal axis, the combination comprising:

a tibial tray component having a tray thickness parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tibia, a tray surface, a peripheral rail extending from the tray surface, and a dovetail boss, and

an inserter having a plunger, a handle, and a head attached to the handle, the head having a shoulder, the shoulder of the head being engageable with the peripheral rail of the tibial tray component and the plunger being engageable with the dovetail boss of the tibial tray component to grip the tibial tray component, whereby, with the head and the plunger cooperating to grip the tibial tray component, linear movement of the inserter in any direction results in corresponding linear movement of the tray component, the head of the inserter having a thickness parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tibia sized to permit the tibial tray and inserter to be inserted together into the gap between the tibia and femur while the inserter is gripping the tray.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the tibial tray includes a through bore generally corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the tibia, the combination further comprising a stem extension insertable through the through bore to extend through the tibial tray and into the tibia along the longitudinal axis of the tibia.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the inserter includes an opening in the head to permit passage of the stem extension through the head and into the through bore of the tibial tray while the inserter is gripping the tray.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein the inserter grips the tray in torque transmitting relationship.