Method for performing an orthopaedic surgical procedure

Abstract

A method for performing an orthopaedic surgical procedure on a knee joint of a patient includes resecting a proximal end of a patient's tibia to create a resected surface of the patient's tibia and positioning a tibial paddle of a sensor module on the proximal end of the patient's tibia. The tibial paddle includes a sensor array generating sensor signals indicative of the joint force of the patient's knee joint. The method also includes performing a number of orthopaedic surgical steps while monitoring a display of the sensor module that provides a visual indication of the medial-lateral balance of the joint force of the patient's knee joint.

1 . A method for performing an orthopaedic surgical procedure on a knee joint of a patient, the method comprising:
 resecting a proximal end of a patient's tibia to create a resected surface of the patient's tibia,   positioning a surgical instrument assembly between the resected proximal end of the patient's tibia and a distal end of the patient's femur, the surgical instrument assembly including curved surfaces shaped to engage corresponding curved surfaces of a femoral component attached to the distal end of the patient's femur, and a sensor array configured to (i) detect medial-lateral forces in the patent's knee joint and (ii) transmit medial-lateral force data to a hand-held display module,   moving the patient's knee joint through a range of flexion with the surgical instrument assembly positioned between the resected proximal end of the patient's tibia and the distal end of the patient's femur to detect medial-lateral forces in the patent's knee joint and transmit medial-lateral force data to the display module,   monitoring a display of the hand-held display module, the display providing a visual indication of the medial-lateral joint force balance of the patient's knee joint based on medial-lateral force data received from the sensor array, and   performing a balancing procedure to adjust the medial-lateral balance as indicated by the display of the display module.   
     
     
         2 . A method for performing an orthopaedic surgical procedure on a knee joint of a patient, the method comprising:
 resecting a proximal end of a patient's tibia to create a resected surface of the patient's tibia,   positioning a surgical instrument assembly between the resected proximal end of the patient's tibia and a distal end of the patient's femur, the surgical instrument assembly including curved surfaces shaped to engage corresponding curved surfaces of a femoral component attached to the distal end of the patient's femur, and a sensor array configured to (i) measure anatomical performance of the patent's knee joint and (ii) transmit anatomical performance data to a display instrument,   moving the patient's knee joint through a range of flexion with the surgical instrument assembly positioned between the resected proximal end of the patient's tibia and the distal end of the patient's femur to measure anatomical performance of the patent's knee joint over the range of flexion and transmit anatomical performance data based on the monitored conditions to the display instrument,   monitoring a display of the display instrument, the display providing a visual indication of the anatomical performance of the patient's knee joint based on anatomical performance data received from the sensor array, and   performing a balancing procedure to improve the anatomical performance of the patient's knee joint as indicated by the display of the display instrument.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the anatomical performance data includes medial-lateral force data. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the anatomical performance data includes the relative location of the patient's tibia and femur. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the anatomical performance data includes flexion angle data. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the anatomical performance data includes relative positions of the patient's tibia and femur. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the anatomical performance data includes flexion angle data. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the sensor array includes a first plurality of pressure sensors that are positioned below a first curved surface of the curved surfaces of the surgical instrument assembly, and   the sensor array includes a second plurality of pressure sensors that are positioned below a second curved surface of the curved surfaces of the surgical instrument assembly.