Patella resection guide

1. A method for preparing a patella to receive a patellar prosthesis, said patella having an anterior surface, an opposing posterior surface with a dome and a peripheral edge between said anterior surface and said posterior surface, comprising the steps of:

(a) engaging said anterior surface;

(b) engaging said peripheral edge at spaced apart portions;

(c) cutting a portion of said patella adjacent said posterior surface;

(d) positioning a guide surface for a cutting tool posteriorly of said spaced apart portions and engaging said guide surface with said cutting tool during step (c); and

(e) cuffing said patella without everting said patella.

2. The method according to claim 1 further including the steps of providing a sizer having an edge defining at least a portion of a circle, said sizer having a central aperture, selecting a sizer having an edge size based upon the peripheral size of the cut portion of said patella, positioning said sizer on said cut portion and drilling a recess in said patella using said central aperture to guide said drilling.

3. The method according to claim 2 further including the step of maintaining said patella in an uneverted position throughout said cutting and drilling.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said cutting includes the steps of

(a) providing a first reamer having (i) a circular cutting portion defining an outer diameter and an inner diameter and (ii) a central stop surface recessed from said cutting portion;

(b) rotating said reamer while said cutting portion is engaged to said posterior surface; and

(c) engaging said dome with said central stop surface to limit the depth to which said cutting portion may cut said patella.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said reamer has a cannulation passageway extending through said central stop surface and further including the steps of

(a) providing a bone drill;

(b) drilling a hole in said patella with said bone drill;

(c) positioning said reamer on said bone drill with said bone drill extending through said passageway; and

(d) using said bone drill as a guide while rotating said reamer.

6. The method according to claim 4 further including the steps of:

(a) providing a second reamer, said second reamer having (i) a central cutting portion and (ii) a circumferential stop surface sized to engage the portion of said patella cut by said first reamer;

(b) rotating said second reamer to cut said patella; and

(c) engaging said circumferential stop surface to said portion of said patella cut by said first reamer to limit the depth of reaming by said central cutting portion.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein said second reamer has a central passageway and further including the step of positioning said second reamer with a drill extended through said central passageway prior to rotating said second reamer.

8. The method according to claim 4 further including the step of positioning a washer against said central stop surface prior to rotating said reamer.

9. The method according to claim 4 further including the steps of (a) providing a guide member having (i) a movable member for engaging said peripheral edge at least one of said spaced apart portions, (ii) fixed means for engaging one or more additional spaced apart portions and (iii) a support member spaced from said fixed means; (b) moving said movable member toward said fixed means to engage and hold said patella by said movable member and said fixed means; and (c) providing a sizer having a guide passageway; (d) positioning said sizer on said support member with said guide passageway positioned over a central portion of said patella; (e) drilling at least one recess in said patella using said guide passageway to guide said drilling; (f) providing a first reamer having (i) a circular cutting portion defining an outer diameter and an inner diameter and (ii) a central stop surface recessed from said cutting portion; (g) rotating said reamer while said cutting portion is engaged to said posterior surface; and (h) engaging said dome with said central stop surface to limit the depth to which said cutting portion may cut said patella.

10. The method according to claim 1 further including the steps of (a) providing a guide member having (i) a movable member for engaging said peripheral edge at least one of said spaced apart portions, (ii) fixed means for engaging said peripheral edge at one or more additional spaced apart portions and (iii) a support member spaced from said fixed means; (b) moving said movable member toward said fixed means to engage and hold said patella by said movable member and said fixed means; (c) providing a sizer having a guide passageway; (d) positioning said sizer on said support member with said guide passageway positioned over a central portion of said patella; (e) drilling with a bone drill at least one recess in said patella while using said guide passageway to guide said drill; (f) providing a first reamer having (i) a circular cutting portion defining an outer diameter and an inner diameter and (ii) a central stop surface recessed from said cutting portion; (g) rotating said reamer while said cutting portion is engaged to said posterior surface; and (h) engaging said dome with said central stop surface to limit the depth to which said cutting portion may cut said patella.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein said drill is positioned in said one recess and said first reamer is provided with a cannulation passageway and further including the step of positioning said reamer on said bone drill with said bone drill extending through said cannulation passageway prior to rotating said reamer.

12. The method according to claim 10 further including the steps of:

(a) providing a second reamer, said second reamer having (i) a central cutting portion and (ii) a circumferential stop surface sized to engage the portion of said patella cut by said first reamer;

(b)rotating said second reamer to cut said patella; and

(c) engaging said circumferential stop surface to said portion of said patella cut by said first reamer to limit the depth of reaming by said central cutting portion.

13. A method for preparing a patella to receive a patellar prosthesis, the patella having an anterior surface, an opposing posterior surface with a dome and a peripheral edge between the anterior surface and the posterior surface, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a patella resection guide having a guide member, the guide member including a movable member for engaging the peripheral edge at spaced apart portions and a guide surface for a cutting tool;

providing fixed means for engaging the peripheral edge at one or more additional spaced apart portions;

moving the movable member toward the fixed means to engage the patella peripheral edge with the movable member and the fixed means by directing an engaging force in a direction substantially perpendicular to an anterior-posterior direction of the patella; and

moving the cutting tool along the guide surface while cuffing the patella without everting the patella.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein said guide surface defines a portion of a guide slot and further including the step of extending said cutting tool through said guide slot.

15. A method for preparing a patella to receive a patellar prosthesis, said patella having an anterior surface, an opposing posterior surface with a dome and a peripheral edge between said anterior surface and said posterior surface, comprising the steps of:

(a) engaging said anterior surface;

(b) engaging said peripheral edge at spaced apart portions; and

(c) cutting a portion of said patella adjacent said posterior surface by

(d) providing a first reamer having (i) a circular cutting portion defining an outer diameter and an inner diameter, (ii) a central stop surface recessed from said cutting portion, and a cannulation passageway extending through said central stop surface

(e) rotating said reamer while said culling portion is engaged to said posterior surface;

(f) engaging said dome with said central stop surface to limit the depth to which said cutting portion may cut said patella;

(g) providing a guide member having (i) a movable member for engaging said peripheral edge at least one of said spaced apart portions, (ii) fixed means for engaging one or more additional spaced apart portions and (iii) a support member spaced from said fixed means;

(h) moving said movable member toward said fixed means to engage and hold said patella by said movable member and said fixed means;

(i) providing a sizer having a guide passageway;

(j) positioning said sizer on said support member with said guide passageway positioned over a central portion of said patella;

(k) drilling at least one recess in said patella using said guide passageway to guide said drilling;

(l) providing a first reamer having (i) a circular culling portion defining an outer diameter and an inner diameter and (ii) a central stop surface recessed from said culling portion;

(m) rotating said reamer while said cutting portion is engaged to said posterior surface

(n) engaging said dome with said central stop surface to limit the depth to which said cutting portion may cut said patella;

(o) providing a second reamer, said second reamer having (i) a central cutting portion and (ii) a circumferential stop surface sized to engage the portion of said patella cut by said first reamer;

(p) rotating said second reamer to cut said patella; and

(q) engaging said circumferential stop surface to said portion of said patella cut by said first reamer to limit the depth of reaming by said central cutting portion.