Patent ID: 8715363

Claim:
A surgical method for implanting at least a tibial implant on a prepared bottom end of a tibia and at least a talus implant on a prepared top surface of a talus of an ankle joint, the method comprising: locating at least one tibial phantom generally corresponding to at least certain features of the tibial implant on the prepared bottom end of the tibia; locating at least one talus phantom generally corresponding to at least certain features of the talus implant on the prepared top surface of the talus; locating a phantom skid between the tibial phantom and the talus phantom; moving the ankle joint through at least flexion and extension, such that dynamic engagement between the phantom skid and the talus phantom positions the tibial phantom on the prepared bottom end of the tibia; identifying the position of the tibial phantom against the prepared bottom end of the tibia; and implanting the tibial implant in the identified position.