Patent ID: 7985227

Claim:
A method for aligning a leg of a patient with a mechanical axis to facilitate medical treatment thereon, said leg having a femoral head, a thigh portion, and a foot portion, which itself includes an ankle portion, said method comprising the steps of: A) providing a device comprising: 1) a base member including a spine portion and a head portion, said spine portion being substantially elongate and having a longitudinal axis, said head portion attached proximate one longitudinal end of said spine portion; 2) a pelvic location assembly attached relative to said base member proximate said head portion, said pelvic location assembly including a femoral head location member; 3) a carriage moveably attached relative to said spine portion and configured to be moved along a carriage path having a portion being substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said spine portion; 4) a boot assembly pivotably attached relative to said carriage; 5) a mechanical axis indicator; and 6) a leg manipulation assembly attached relative to said spine portion between said pelvic location assembly and said boot assembly, said leg manipulating assembly having a first lateral force assembly and a second lateral force assembly, said force assemblies being proximate said thigh portion and spaced apart to accept said leg therebetween, said first lateral force assembly being adjustable and selectably securable along an axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said spine portion; B) positioning said leg adjacent said base member such that said leg is generally parallel to said longitudinal axis of said spine portion; C) securing said foot portion of said patient's leg to said boot assembly; D) selectively securing said carriage relative to said spine portion so as to discourage said relative movement between said boot assembly and said spine portion; E) manipulating said femoral head location member to establish a first reference point positioned at a known location relative to the center of said femoral head; F) manipulating said boot assembly to establish a second reference point at a known location relative to the center of said ankle portion of said foot portion; G) obtaining from said mechanical axis indicator a visual indication of a portion of a reference axis passing from said first reference point to said second reference point, such that said reference axis is within substantially the same plane as said mechanical axis; H) adjusting said first lateral force assembly to urge said leg into a desired alignment with said mechanical axis indicator; and I) selectively securing said first lateral force assembly to discourage said leg from moving away from said desired alignment.