Patent ID: 7172596

Claim:
A method for resectioning the proximal end of a tibia comprising the steps of (a) providing a tibial resection guide having (i) an engagement surface following a contoured path permitting engagement with two spaced apart portions of said tibia, one of said portions being in the vicinity of an anterior cortex and the other of said portions being in the vicinity of either a medial cortex adjacent a medial collateral ligament or a lateral cortex adjacent a lateral collateral ligament; (ii) an opposed surface spaced from said engagement surface; (iii) a first end between said engagement surface and said opposed surface; (iv) a second end between said engagement surface and said opposed surface; (v) a proximal surface; and (vi) a slot for receiving and guiding the path of a saw extending therethrough, said slot extending between said opposed surface and said engagement surface and permitting positioning of said saw medially in the vicinity of a medial collateral ligament or laterally in the vicinity of a lateral collateral ligament; (b) positioning said resection guide with said engagement surface in the area of said tibia proximal end and in contact with said tibia in the area of said anterior cortex and either said medial cortex or said lateral cortex and with said slot being substantially perpendicular to the mechanical axis of said tibia; (c) displacing said medial collateral ligament or said lateral collateral ligament with said first end; and (d) resecting said tibia proximal end with a saw extending through said slot.