Improved ligament fixing and a method of attaching a ligament

摘要

An artificial ligament is provided having an elongate body and two ends, with a loop 22 being provided at one of the ends and a loop liner 30 being provided within the loop. The loop liner protects the ligament from abrasion and wear and is located on the inner face of the loop. A kit of artificial ligaments is also provided with each ligament in the kit having a different fixed length. Also provided are methods for determining a length of artificial ligament to be used within a prosthetic knee joint, selecting a ligament from a range or kit of ligaments, and implanting a prosthetic knee joint assembly comprising an artificial ligament. A ligament gauge (700, see figure 7) for measuring the length of ligament required in a knee joint is also provided. The gauge has an elongate body 704, an arcuate portion 702 at one end and a sliding jaw 705 which slides along the gauge.