Tool for placing a malleolar implant for partial or total ankle prosthesis

Abstract

A method of implanting in a fibula a malleolar implant including a head and a shank. The method comprises the steps of creating a bore in the fibula extending from an inner face to an outer face and applying a traction force to the malleolar implant so that the shank is pulled into the bore.

1 . A method of implanting in a fibula a malleolar implant including a head and a shank, the method comprising the steps of: 
 creating a bore in the fibula extending from an inner face to an outer face; and    applying a traction force to the malleolar implant so that the shank is pulled into the bore.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising applying the traction force to the shank.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  comprising applying the traction force from a location external to the outer face of the fibula.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  comprising applying the traction force so that the head contacts an astragalus or astragalian prosthetic component when the shank is pulled into the bore.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  comprising applying the traction force in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bore.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  comprising inserting a traction member through at least one orifice in the shank and applying the traction force to the traction member.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the steps of: 
 engaging a traction member with the malleolar implant; and    applying the traction force through the bore.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  comprising selecting one of a plurality of orifices in the shank and inserting the traction member through the selected orifice.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  comprising applying the traction force to a traction member in a direction away from the head.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  comprising applying the traction force in a direction away from the head and through at least one bore in the shank.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  comprising extending a flexible traction member through a bore in the shank and applying the traction force to the flexible traction member in a direction away from the head.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  comprising aligning the shank with the bore.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  comprising applying a traction force to the implant so that outer radial flanges on the shank frictionally engage with the bore.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  comprising creating a bore in the fibula with a diameter substantially the same as a diameter of the shank.  
     
     
         15 . A method of implanting in a fibula a malleolar implant including a shank coupled to a head, the method comprising the steps of: 
 creating a bore in the fibula extending from an inner face to an outer face;    aligning the shank and the bore; and    applying a traction force to the shank so that the shank is pulled into the bore.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  comprising inserting a traction member through an orifice in the shank and applying the traction force to the traction member.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  comprising inserting a flexible traction member through an orifice in the shank and applying the traction force in a direction away from the head and through the bore.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  applying the traction force in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bore.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  comprising applying a traction force so that the head contacts an astragalus or astragalian prosthetic component when the shank is pulled into the bore.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  comprising creating a bore with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the shank.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15  comprising applying the traction force from a location external to the outer face of the fibula.  
     
     
         22 . A method of implanting in a fibula a malleolar implant including a shank coupled to a head, the method comprising the steps of: 
 creating a bore in the fibula extending from an inner face to an outer face;    inserting a traction member through an orifice in the shank; and    applying a traction force to the traction member in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bore so that the shank is pulled into the bore.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  comprising the steps of: 
 extending the traction member away from the head and through the bore; and    applying the traction force to the traction member through the bore.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  comprising selecting one of a plurality of orifices in the shank and inserting the traction member through the selected orifice.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  comprising applying the traction force so that the head contacts an astragalus or astragalian prosthetic component when the shank is pulled into the bore.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22  comprising applying the traction force in a direction generally perpendicular to an orifice in the shank.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22  comprising creating the bore with a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of the shank.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22  comprising engaging a flexible traction member with the shank and applying the traction force.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22  comprising applying the traction force from a location external to the outer face of the fibula.  
     
     
         30 . A method of implanting in a fibula a malleolar implant including a shank coupled to a head, the method comprising the steps of: 
 creating a bore in the fibula extending from an inner face to an outer face;    inserting a traction member through an orifice in the shank;    extending the traction member through the bore from the inner face to the outer face; and    applying a traction force to the traction member from a location external to the outer face of the fibula so that the shank is pulled into the bore.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  comprising applying the traction force in a direction generally transverse to an elongated axis of the shank.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  comprising selecting an orifice in the shank from a plurality of orifices and inserting the traction member through the selected orifice.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30  comprising applying the traction force so that the head contacts an astragalus or astragalian prosthetic component when the shank is pulled into the bore.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30  comprising applying the traction force generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bore.  
     
     
         35 . A method of implanting a malleolar implant in a fibula, the method comprising the steps of: 
 creating a bore in the fibula extending from an inner face to an outer face;    providing a malleolar implant having a shank coupled to a head; and    applying a traction force to the implant from a location external to the outer face of the fibula so that the shank is pulled into the bore.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  comprising the steps of: 
 inserting a traction member through an orifice in the shank;    extending the traction member through the bore from the inner face to the outer face of the fibula; and    applying the traction force to the traction member.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  comprising applying the traction force in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bore.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35  comprising aligning the shank with the bore.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35  comprising frictionally engaging outer radial flanges on the shank with the bore.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35  comprising creating the bore with a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of the shank.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 36  comprising selecting an orifice from a plurality of orifices and inserting the traction member through the selected orifice.