Patent ID: 8262664
Filing Date: 2012-09-11
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of performing a tibial tubercle osteotomy in a knee joint, the knee joint including an anterior side positioned on a first, front side of a coronal plane and an opposing posterior side positioned on a second, back side of the coronal plane, the knee including a tibia having a longitudinal axis extending between a tibia proximal end and a tibia distal end, the tibia proximal end being closer to the knee joint than the tibia distal end, the method comprising: cutting a bone portion of a tibial tubercle from a remaining portion of the tibial tubercle, at least a portion of a patella ligament being attached to the bone portion; separating the bone portion of the tibial tubercle from the remaining portion of the tibial tubercle such that the patella ligament remains attached to the bone portion, the tibial tubercle having a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the proximal end of the tibial tubercle being closer to the knee joint than the distal end of the tibial tubercle along the longitudinal axis of the tibia, the bone portion being separated from the remaining portion such that a recessed pocket is formed on the tibial tubercle, the recessed pocket having an undercut surface extending toward the proximal end of the tibial tubercle, said undercut surface defining a distally projecting anterior ridge extending toward the tibia distal end; and reattaching the separated bone portion of the tibial tubercle to the remaining portion of the tibial tubercle, whereby said distally projecting anterior ridge resists anterior movement of the bone portion toward the anterior side of the knee joint after said reattaching step.