Femoral trochlea prostheses

Abstract

Various embodiments of femoral trochlea prostheses useable in a knee joint. The knee joint includes a patella and a distal femur with a femoral trochlea, or patello-femoral groove. In one embodiment, a femoral trochlea prosthesis includes a nonarticulating surface including contoured surfaces and/or planar surfaces. The present disclosure also provides a method for preparing a bone surface for receiving the prostheses described herein.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method for preparing an anatomical structure to receive a femoral trochlea prosthesis and for implanting the prosthesis in the anatomical structure, comprising the steps of:
 resecting a portion of the anatomical structure by making one of:
 a single planar resection along a line disposed at an angle with respect to a coronal plane of the anatomical structure; and 
 at least a pair of planar resection lines, at least one of said pair of planar resection lines disposed at an angle with respect to a coronal plane of the anatomical structure; 
   selecting a prosthesis to match the resection of said resecting step; and   implanting the prosthesis with respect to the prepared anatomical structure.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of implanting an augment prosthesis between the prosthesis and the anatomical structure. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said step of implanting the prosthesis with respect to the prepared anatomical structure precedes said step of implanting an augment prosthesis between the prosthesis and the anatomical structure. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said resecting step defines a resected surface for an anterior nonarticulating surface of the prosthesis. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said resecting step further comprises two planar cuts defining a resected surface for a pair of distal nonarticulating surfaces of the prosthesis. 
     
     
         17 . A method for preparing an anatomical structure to receive a femoral trochlea prosthesis and for implanting the prosthesis in the anatomical structure, comprising the steps of:
 resecting a portion of the anatomical structure by making at least two noncoplanar cuts at a distal end of the anatomical structure, the two noncoplanar cuts defining a resected surface for a pair of distal nonarticulating surfaces of the prosthesis;   selecting a femoral trochlea prosthesis to match the resection of said resecting step; and   implanting the prosthesis with respect to the prepared anatomical structure.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of implanting an augment prosthesis between the prosthesis and the anatomical structure. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said step of implanting the prosthesis with respect to the prepared anatomical structure precedes said step of implanting an augment prosthesis between the prosthesis and the anatomical structure.