Surgical instrumentation and methods of use for implanting a prosthesis

Abstract

A method of utilizing a distractor in a joint replacement procedure is provided. The method includes releasably engaging a datum to a datum securement of the distractor and gripping a handle of the distractor in an insertion position. The handle includes a first handle portion and a second handle portion. The method includes disposing a paddle of a tissue engaging portion of the distractor against a tissue surface and adjusting the handle from the insertion position to the distraction position to thereby independently move the paddle with respect to both the second handle portion and the first handle portion such that the paddle remains at a generally constant angle against the tissue surface as the tissue surface is distracted. The paddle is attached directly and exclusively to a distal tip of the second handle portion such that the paddle pivots about an axis transverse to a length of the handle.

1 . A method of utilizing a distractor in a joint replacement procedure, the method comprising:
 releasably engaging a datum to a datum securement of the distractor;   gripping a handle of the distractor in an insertion position, the handle comprising:
 a first handle portion having a length extending between the datum securement and a grip portion of the first handle portion such that a combined length of the first handle portion and a length of the datum securement is generally planar when the distractor is in the insertion position, in a distraction position and in positions between the insertion position and the distraction position, and 
 a second handle portion having a distal portion that is generally parallel to the first handle portion when the distractor is in the insertion position and that is not generally parallel to the first handle portion when the distractor is in the distraction position; 
   disposing a paddle of a tissue engaging portion of the distractor against a tissue surface, the paddle attached directly and exclusively to a distal tip of the second handle portion such that the paddle pivots about an axis transverse to a length of the handle; and   adjusting the handle from the insertion position to the distraction position to thereby independently move the paddle with respect to both the second handle portion and the first handle portion such that the paddle remains at a generally constant angle against the tissue surface as the tissue surface is distracted.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first handle portion extends from the datum securement and the second handle portion extends from the tissue engaging portion, and wherein the adjusting the handle from the insertion position to the distraction position includes moving a distal end of the first handle portion towards a distal end of the second handle portion, thereby causing the datum securement to move apart from the tissue engaging portion. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second handle portion is pivotable with respect to the first handle portion and the first handle portion is releasably attached to the second handle portion. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the handle from the insertion position to the distraction position includes operating a rachet extending between the first handle portion and the second handle portion, the ratchet being pivotably attached to the first handle portion and detachable from the second handle portion. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the paddle is sized and configured to extend over the datum and the portion is narrower than a space between pin apertures of the datum when the datum securement is engaged with the datum. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distractor includes an abutment member engagable with the datum and movable from a secured position to a released position. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the distractor further includes a datum lock configured to move the datum securement from the secured position to the released position. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the datum lock includes a rotatable nut that threadably engages a shaft extending from the datum securement. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping the handle of the distractor further comprises gripping a gripping portion of the handle having a plurality of indentations separated by columns that are orientated perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the paddle and the second handle portion pivot about axes that are generally parallel to one another. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the paddle is sized and configured such that it is movable from the space between the pin apertures of the datum. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the paddle is larger than a distal end of the paddle. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a width of the proximal end of the paddle is wider than a space between pin apertures of the datum, the space measured in a direction transverse to the length of the handle, when the datum securement is engaged with the datum. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the paddle includes one or more ribs extending from a bottom surface of the paddle in a direction distal to the paddle such that the one or more ribs rest in a recess of the second handle portion when the handle is in the insertion position. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the abutment member, having a length extending between a proximal end and a distal end, includes one or more forks extending from between the proximal end and the distal end to distally facing end surfaces and positioned such that each fork extends along a side of the datum securement, wherein the datum is connected to the abutment member at one or more points of contact with the distally facing end surfaces of the forks. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each distally facing end surface of the abutment member is shaped such that it is generally parallel to an engagable surface of the datum. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the distractor includes a stop configured to engage with the abutment member when the datum is engaged to the distractor. 
     
     
         18 . A method of utilizing a distractor in a joint replacement procedure, the method comprising:
 releasably engaging a datum to a datum securement of the distractor;   gripping a handle of the distractor in an insertion position, the handle comprising:
 a first handle portion having a length extending between the datum securement and a grip portion of the first handle portion such that a combined length of the first handle portion and a length of the datum securement is generally planar when the distractor is in the insertion position, in a distraction position and in positions between the insertion position and the distraction position, 
 a second handle portion comprising an inflection point between a grip portion of the second handle portion and a tissue engaging portion of the distractor, the second handle portion being adjustable from the insertion position to the distraction position; 
   disposing a paddle of the tissue engaging portion of the distractor against a tissue surface, the paddle attached directly and exclusively to a distal tip of the second handle portion such that the paddle pivots about an axis transverse to a length of the handle; and   adjusting the handle from the insertion position to the distraction position to thereby independently move the paddle with respect to both the second handle portion and the first handle portion such that the paddle remains at a generally constant angle against the tissue surface as the tissue surface is distracted.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first handle portion extends from the datum securement and the second handle portion extends from the tissue engaging portion, and wherein the adjusting the handle from the insertion position to the distraction position includes moving a distal end of the first handle portion towards a distal end of the second handle portion, thereby causing the datum securement to move apart from the tissue engaging portion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the adjusting the handle from the insertion position to the distraction position includes operating a rachet extending between the first handle portion and the second handle portion, the ratchet being pivotably attached to the first handle portion and detachable from the second handle portion.