Tibial prosthesis systems, kits, and methods

Abstract

Tibial prosthesis systems for implantation or use in a knee joint are disclosed. A tibial prosthesis system can include a bearing component, a base component, a shim component, and optionally a spacer component. The shim or spacer component can be inserted between an inferior surface of the bearing component and a superior surface of the base component. The insertion of the shim or spacer component can provide spacing adjustment between the bearing and base components. The shim component can include one or both of a medial edge having a different height than a lateral edge or an anterior edge having a different height than a posterior edge. The differing edge height of the shim component can provide a surgeon with knee joint kinematic insight regarding an angled bone cut before the cut is made, and can allow for sizing of an appropriately permanent prosthesis system using a reduced number of provisional components.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A tibial prosthesis system comprising:
 a bearing component having a superior articulating surface and an inferior surface;   a base component having a superior surface and an inferior surface, the base component configured to removably engage with the bearing component, whereby engagement of the bearing component and the base component restrains at least one of anterior/posterior movement or medial/lateral movement between the bearing component and the base component; and   a plurality of shims, each shim configured to be slidable between the inferior surface of the bearing component and the superior surface of the base component to change a relative proximal/distal spacing between the bearing component and base component, wherein each of the plurality of shims has one or more of a size or shape that differs from others of the plurality of shims, and wherein one or more of the plurality of shims includes one or both of a medial edge having a different height than a lateral edge or an anterior edge having a different height than a posterior edge.   
     
     
         22 . The tibial prosthesis system of  claim 21 , wherein an inferior surface of each of the plurality of shims includes a medial to lateral angle between +3 degrees and −3 degrees, inclusive, relative to horizontal and wherein the medial to lateral angle of each of the plurality of shims differs from others of the plurality of shims. 
     
     
         23 . The tibial prosthesis system of  claim 21 , wherein an inferior surface of each of the plurality of shims includes an anterior to posterior angle between +3 degrees and −3 degrees, inclusive, and wherein the anterior to posterior angle of each of the plurality of shims differs from others of the plurality of shims. 
     
     
         24 . The tibial prosthesis system of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of shims comprise a set of shims provided together. 
     
     
         25 . The tibial prosthesis system of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of shims provide between 10 mm and 20 mm, inclusive, of spacing adjustment between a portion of the bearing component and a portion of the base component. 
     
     
         26 . The tibial prosthesis system of  claim 25 , wherein one or more of the plurality of shims have one of an anterior edge height or a posterior edge height between 10 mm and 14 mm, inclusive. 
     
     
         27 . The tibial prosthesis system of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of shims have a thickness range of between 10 mm and 14 mm, inclusive. 
     
     
         28 . The tibial prosthesis system of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the plurality of shims has a thickness of less than about 6 mm. 
     
     
         29 . The tibial prosthesis system of  claim 21 , wherein two or more of the plurality of shims can be used in combination to provide for additional spacing between the bearing component and the base component. 
     
     
         30 . The tibial prosthesis of system of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a set of different sized base components.   
     
     
         31 . The tibial prosthesis of system of  claim 30 , wherein 0 mm to 6 mm of spacing adjustment can be provided by the different sized base components. 
     
     
         32 . The tibial prosthesis system of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a shim handling instrument including an interface configured to engage with a front end portion of each of the plurality of shims.   
     
     
         33 . The tibial prosthesis system of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 one or more sensors coupled to or integrated with each of the plurality of shims.   
     
     
         34 . The tibial prosthesis system of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a plurality of sensors coupled to or integrated with the bearing component.   
     
     
         35 . The tibial prosthesis system of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a spacer component configured to be slidable between the inferior surface of the bearing component and the superior surface of the base component.   
     
     
         36 . The tibial prosthesis system of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a screw configured to extend partially through each of the bearing component and the base component, in a distal direction from the superior articulating surface, to attach the bearing component to the base component.   
     
     
         37 . A tibial prosthesis system comprising:
 a plurality of bearing components, each bearing component having a superior articulating surface and an inferior surface, wherein each bearing component has a different size;   a base component having a superior surface and an inferior surface, the base component configured to removably engage with the bearing component;   a plurality of shims, each shim configured to be slidable between the inferior surface of the bearing component and the superior surface of the base component to change a relative proximal/distal spacing between the bearing component and base component, wherein each of the plurality of shims has a thickness that differs from others of the plurality of shims, and wherein one or more of the plurality of shims includes one or both of a medial edge having a different height than a lateral edge or an anterior edge having a different height than a posterior edge.   
     
     
         38 . The tibial prosthesis system of  claim 35 , wherein 0 mm to 6 mm of spacing adjustment can be provided by the different sized base components. 
     
     
         39 . The tibial prosthesis system of  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of shims have a thickness range of between 10 mm and 14 mm, inclusive. 
     
     
         40 . The tibial prosthesis system of  claim 35 , wherein at least one of the plurality of shims has a thickness of less than about 6 mm. 
     
     
         41 . A tibial prosthesis system comprising:
 a bearing component having a superior articulating surface and an inferior surface;   a base component having a superior surface and an inferior surface, the base component configured to removably engage with the bearing component, whereby engagement of the bearing component and the base component restrains at least one of anterior/posterior movement or medial/lateral movement between the bearing component and the base component;   a plurality of shims, each shim configured to be slidable between the inferior surface of the bearing component and the superior surface of the base component to change a relative proximal/distal spacing between the bearing component and base component, wherein each of the plurality of shims has one or more of a size or shape that differs from others of the plurality of shims, and wherein one or more of the plurality of shims includes one or both of a medial edge having a different height than a lateral edge or an anterior edge having a different height than a posterior edge; and   one or more sensors coupled to or integrated with at least one of the bearing component, the base component, or one or more of the plurality of shim components.