Hip surgery systems and methods

Abstract

Orthopedic systems and methods are provided for use in preparing joints for implants. Specifically, hip preparation systems and methods are disclosed which can include a surgical orientation device. The hip preparation systems and methods can be used, for example, to orient the hip during the procedure, determine the orientation of an anatomical plane or planes, and orient a prosthetic component or components.

1 . A method for preparing a patient's hip for receiving an implant, comprising:
 providing a first orthopedic system comprising a reference post comprising an orientation sensor, an impactor coupled with the reference post, a first angle assessment guide, and a portable surgical orientation device attached to the angle assessment guide;   attaching the reference post to a hip bone of the patient;   measuring and recording a reference distance from the reference post to an anatomical landmark using the portable surgical orientation device;   removing the angle assessment guide, impactor, and portable surgical orientation device from the reference post;   providing a second orthopedic system comprising an alignment guide, a second angle assessment guide attached to the alignment guide, and the portable surgical orientation device attached to the alignment guide;   measuring an orientation of an anatomical plane using the second angle assessment guide;   orienting an implant relative to the anatomical plane and inserting the implant into the acetabulum using the second orthopedic system;   attaching a femoral broach to the patient's femur, the femoral broach including a head;   positioning the head in the implant;   providing the first orthopedic system a second time; and   measuring changes in the reference distance.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first angle assessment guide is attached to the impactor at a defined angle relative to the impactor. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the defined angle is approximately 45 degrees. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising orienting the hip and joint assessment system using positional data from the portable surgical orientation device prior to measuring and recording the reference distance; 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein attaching the joint assessment system comprises driving the reference post into the iliac spine on the patient's hip. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the angle assessment guide comprises a cross-member, and wherein the portable surgical orientation device is coupled to the cross-member. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein measuring and recording the reference distance comprises touching a pin on the angle assessment guide to the anatomical landmark and marking the locations using a marker device. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anatomical landmark comprises at least one of the lesser trochanter and the greater trochanter. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second angle assessment guide is a tripod device. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the tripod device contacts the acetabular rim to identify a plane of the acetabular rim. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the implant is a prosthetic acetabular cup, and orienting the implant comprises attaching the prosthetic acetabular cup to the alignment guide and using the portable surgical orientation device to identify an orientation of the prosthetic acetabular cup. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portable surgical orientation device comprises at least one sensor for sensing positional changes of the surgical orientation device. 
   
   
       13 . A method for preparing a patient's hip for receiving an implant, comprising:
 attaching a first orthopedic system to the patient's hip with a reference device, the first orthopedic system comprising a portable surgical orientation device;   measuring and recording a reference distance from the reference device to an anatomical landmark using the portable surgical orientation device;   measuring an orientation of an anatomical plane on the patient's hip using a second orthopedic system, the second orthopedic system comprising the portable surgical orientation device;   orienting an implant relative to the anatomical plane using the second orthopedic system;   inserting the implant into the acetabulum;   inserting a prosthetic femoral head into the implant; and   measuring changes in the reference distance using the first orthopedic system.   
   
   
       14 . A method for positioning a patient in a hip procedure, comprising:
 advancing a reference device into a patient's pelvic bone;   coupling a surgical orientation device with the reference device such that the orientation device is not moveable relative to the pelvic bone;   measuring at least one of the position or orientation of at least a portion of the patient's hip joint using the surgical orientation device; and   moving the patient's hip joint to selected position the patient relative to a fixed reference frame based on the measurement on the surgical orientation device.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein advancing further comprises advancing the reference device into the iliac spine. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising positioning the surgical orientation device to be at about 45 degrees to a longitudinal axis of the reference device. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising positioning the surgical orientation device to be at an acute angle to a medial-lateral plane of the pelvic bone. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising positioning the surgical orientation device to be at about 45 degrees to a medial-lateral plane of the pelvic bone. 
   
   
       19 . A method for assessing relative position of portions of a hip joint, comprising coupling a surgical orientation device to a first bone of a patient's hip at a first location with a reference device;
 measuring a reference distance from the reference device to an anatomical landmark of a second bone using the surgical orientation device;   performing a hip procedure; and   after performing the hip procedure, confirming the position of the anatomical landmark relative to the first location.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein coupling the surgical device comprises advancing the reference device into the iliac spine. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the anatomical landmarks includes one or more of the greater trochanter and the lesser trochanter. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 coupling a first end of an elongate member with a proximal end of the reference device; and   moving a second end of the elongate member that is opposite the first end to a location above the anatomical landmark.   
   
   
       23 . A method of placing an acetabular implant, comprising:
 providing an orientation apparatus comprising an elongate member having a handle disposed at a proximal end, an angle assessment device disposed at a distal end, and a surgical orientation device;   advancing the angle assessment device into contact with an anatomical landmark of the acetabulum while measuring orientation of the landmark;   preparing the acetabulum for receiving the acetabular implant;   placing the acetabular implant within the acetabulum; and   advancing the angle assessment device into contact with the acetabular implant to confirm the orientation of the implant.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claims 23 , wherein the anatomical landmark comprises a plane including the rim of the acetabulum. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the angle assessment device is a tripod device. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the anatomical landmark comprises a plurality of spaced apart locations on the acetabular rim. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the angle assessment device is a tripod device and confirming the orientation of the implant includes contacting the tripod device with a plurality of spaced apart locations on the acetabular implant. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein placing the acetabular implant includes advancing the implant into the acetabulum while monitoring the orientation thereof using the surgical orientation device. 
   
   
       29 . A method of preparing an acetabular surface for receiving an acetabular implant, comprising:
 providing a handle, a shaft rotatably coupled with the handle, a reamer coupled a distal end of the shaft, and an orientation device coupled in a fixed position relative to the handle;   providing contact between the reamer and an acetabular surface while rotating the shaft and reamer to remove bone within the acetabulum; and   measuring the orientation of the reamer while providing contact between the reamer and an acetabular surface.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein a sleeve is disposed about the shaft and coupled therewith to remain in a fixed relation ship relative to the shaft when the shaft is rotated, the orientation device being coupled with the sleeve.