Method of repairing a knee joint

• US 8,216,319 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Rhodes, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Isabella, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHILLINGER, ANN M
• Application Number:
  US11/259,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20070100459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,448 Days
• Field of Search: 623 2014- 2036
• US Class Current: 623/20.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30721 Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3877 Patellae or trochleae
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30616 Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3093 for promoting ingrowth of bone tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3895 unicompartimental
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00029 Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00179 Ceramics or ceramic-like structures

Abstract

A knee joint is repaired by implanting a trochlear implant component, a patellar implant component and an anti-abrasion stud. The stud has a bearing surface, a bone-facing surface and a fixation post. The fixation post is implanted in the distal femur so that the bearing surface of the stud stands above the patient'"'"'s native articular cartilage. The stud and trochlear component are implanted in close enough proximity to limit contact between the patellar component and the native articular cartilage around the trochlear component during flexion and extension of the knee joint.

Claims

1. A method of repairing a knee joint comprising:

implanting a trochlear component on the femur, the trochlear component having a tapered distal portion and a bearing surface comprising two convex surfaces meeting along a groove, the trochlear component being implanted adjacent to the intercondylar notch of the femur;

implanting a patellar component on the patella;

providing a stud having a bearing surface, a bone-facing surface and a fixation post extending outward from the bone-facing surface;

implanting the stud on the femur adjacent to native articular cartilage so that at least a substantial portion of the bearing surface of the stud stands above the top surface of the adjacent native articular cartilage and the fixation post extends into the bone of the femur;

wherein the stud and trochlear component are discrete components and are sized, shaped and positioned to limit contact between the patellar component and the native articular cartilage around the trochlear component during flexion and extension of the knee joint and wherein the stud and trochlear component are both present on the femur at the same time;

wherein the trochlear component and patellar component are sized, shaped and positioned so that the patellar component articulates with the bearing surface of the trochlear component;

wherein there is no contact between the bearing surface of the stud and the bearing surface of the trochlear component; and

wherein the bearing surface of the stud is made of a material that is not biodegradable and not bioresorbable.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the stud is implanted adjacent to the trochlear groove.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of implanting the trochlear component and the step of implanting the stud are performed in separate surgical procedures.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of implanting the trochlear component and the step of implanting the stud are performed in a single surgical procedure.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of implanting a uni-condylar component on one of the condyles of the distal femur, and wherein the uni-condylar component, the stud and the trochlear component are all present on the femur at the same time and the uni-condylar component and the stud are spaced from each other.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the stud is implanted between the trochlear component and the uni-condylar component and wherein there is no contact between the stud and the uni-condylar component.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of implanting the uni-condylar component and the step of implanting the trochlear component are performed in separate surgical procedures.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of implanting the uni-condylar component, the step of implanting the trochlear component and the step of implanting the stud are performed in three separate surgical procedures.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein

the trochlear component is implanted adjacent to native articular cartilage.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of implanting a uni-condylar component on one of the condyles of the distal femur, the uni-condylar having an arcuate bearing surface and covering the distal and posterior articulating surfaces of one femoral condyle, wherein the uni-condylar component, the stud and the trochlear component are all present on the femur at the same time and wherein the stud is implanted between and spaced from the trochlear component and the uni-condylar component.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the bearing surface of the stud is made of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, polymer and ceramic.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the entire stud is made of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, polymer and ceramic.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the bearing surface of the stud is made of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, polymer and ceramic.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the entire stud is made of material selected from the group consisting of metal, polymer and ceramic.