Joint instrumentation and associated methods of use

Abstract

A trial implant is provided. The implant includes a central portion. The central portion includes a top articulating surface extending between a first end and a second end and having a convex shape, a bottom surface configured to at least partially contact a first resected surface of a bone, and a first side surface extending between the top articulating surface and the bottom surface. The first side surface is sloped such that a width of the top articulating surface is greater than a width of the bottom surface. The implant further includes a first outer portion extending laterally from the central portion. The first side surface and the first outer portion are separated by a first opening shaped such that up to four resected surfaces of the bone are visible when the trial implant is seated on the bone.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of manufacturing a trial implant, the method comprising:
 forming a central portion of the trial implant to comprise:
 a convex articulating surface extending between a first end and a second end, 
 a bottom surface configured to at least partially contact a first resected surface of a bone, and 
 a first side surface extending between the convex articulating surface and the bottom surface, the first side surface being sloped such that a width of the convex articulating surface is greater than a width of the bottom surface; and 
   forming a first outer portion extending laterally from the central portion,   such that the first side surface and the first outer portion are separated by a first opening shaped such that up to four resected surfaces of the bone are visible when the trial implant is seated on the bone.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the trial implant is manufactured to include a second opening. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the second opening is smaller than the first opening. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first outer portion extends laterally from the central portion such that the first outer portion is entirely on one side of a plane through the first side surface. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first outer portion forms a perimeter around the central portion. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least the central portion and the first outer portion are monolithic. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein a width of the convex articulating surface of the central portion and a width of the bottom surface of the central portion are each greater than a height of the side surface of the central portion. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first outer portion is further formed to comprise:
 a top surface that faces a same direction as the convex articulating surface of the central portion;   a bottom surface that faces a same direction as the bottom surface of the central portion; and   a side surface.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein a width of the top surface of the first outer portion and a width of the bottom surface of the first outer portion are each greater than a height of the first side surface of the first outer portion. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface of the first outer portion extends below the bottom surface of the central portion. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the convex articulating surface of the central portion is further formed to comprise a first top surface, a second top surface laterally spaced from the first top surface, and a ridge separating the first top surface from the second top surface. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the bottom surface of the central portion comprises a post configured for placement in a hole through the first resected surface of the bone. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the bone is a talar bone of an ankle of a patient. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising forming a second outer portion extending laterally from the central portion such that the central portion separates the second outer portion from the first outer portion and a second opening separates the central portion from the second outer portion. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising forming a third opening through the central portion, the third opening having a long dimension transverse to a long dimension of the second opening. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the first outer portion is formed to have a first shape and the second outer portion is formed to have a second shape different from the first shape. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the second outer portion has a substantially uniform thickness. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein a bottom surface of the second outer portion does not extend below the bottom surface of the central portion. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the second outer portion extends laterally from the central portion such that the second outer portion is entirely on one side of a plane through a second side surface of the central portion. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the second side surface of the central portion has a different slope from the first side surface of the central portion.