Ankle prosthesis methods

1. A method of implanting an ankle prosthesis in a subject having an ankle joint in need of replacement, the ankle joint including a distal tibia end, a fibula, and a talus, the method comprising:

providing a fixed-bearing ankle prosthesis comprising a tibial component and a talar component, wherein:

the tibial component comprises a convex tibial attachment surface defined by a circle arc and a tibial articulating surface;

the talar component comprises a medial edge, a lateral edge, a concave talar attachment surface defined by a circle arc, and a talar articulating surface, the talar articulating surface directly contactable with the tibial articulating surface;

the tibial articulating surface comprises a medial concave condylar facet and a lateral concave condylar facet, each condylar facet having a radius of curvature in a medial-lateral plane that defines a respective circle arc, the facets separated from one another by a convex central portion;

the talar articulating surface comprises a medial convex condyle that underlies the medial condylar facet, and a lateral convex condyle that underlies the lateral condylar facet, the condyles separated from one another by a concave central portion that underlies the tibial convex central portion;

the medial condyle of the talar component has a first single radius of curvature in the medial-lateral plane that defines a convex circular arc cross-section continuously extending, in the medial-lateral plane, from the medial edge of the talar component to the concave central portion of the talar articulating surface;

the lateral condyle of the talar component has a second single radius of curvature in the medial-lateral plane that defines a convex circular arc cross-section continuously extending, in the medial-lateral plane, from the lateral edge of the talar component to the concave central portion of the talar component second surface;

the medial condyle radius of curvature is smaller than the medial condylar facet radius of curvature; and

the lateral condyle radius of curvature is smaller than the lateral condylar facet radius of curvature;

performing an osteotomy of the fibula to gain lateral access to the distal tibia end and the talus;

distracting the ankle joint;

making a concave cut in the distal tibia end corresponding to the convex curve of the tibial attachment surface to create a tibial cut end;

making a convex cut in the talus corresponding to the concave curve of the talar attachment surface to create a talar cut end;

fixing the tibial attachment surface of the tibial component to the tibial cut end;

fixing the talar attachment surface to the talar component to the talar cut end;

approximating the respective articulating surfaces of the tibial component and the talar component so that they contact one another; and

refixating the fibula.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the talar condyle radii of curvature are between 92% and 96% of the corresponding tibial condylar facet radii of curvature.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the medial and lateral condylar facets of the tibial component have concave circular arc cross-sections extending in an anterior-posterior direction, the medial and lateral condyles of the talar component have convex circular arc cross-sections extending in the anterior-poster direction, and anterior-posterior radii of the circular arc cross-sections of the tibial component are larger than corresponding radii of the circular arc cross-sections of the talar component.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the anterior-posterior radii of the circular arc cross-sections of the talar component are between 85% and 96% of the corresponding radii of the circular arc cross-sections of the tibial component.