Patent ID: 6273891
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
A method of positioning an orthopaedic implant relative to bone so as to achieve a desired orientation, comprising the steps of:providing an implant having an anchoring unit extending therefrom;adjusting the orientation of the implant so as to achieve the desired orientation;stabilinzing the positioning of the implant by fixing at least a portion of the anchoring unit to a point of bone surrounding the implant;temporarily removing the implant, leaving at least a portion of the anchoring unit fixed to the surrounding bone;applying cement to fix the implant;re-installing the implant, with the portion of the anchoring unit fixed to the surrounding bone being used to ensure that the implant is returned to the desired orientation for fixation; andremoving at least the portion of the anchoring unit fixed to the surrounding bone.