Device and method for locating the anteroposterior femoral axis to determine proper femoral component rotation in knee replacement

摘要

A device for indicating the location of the anteroposterior femoral axis has a spike or needle that engages the anterior-most point in the intercondylar notch and a rounded or spherical surface is placed on the trochlear groove of the femur and urged in a posterior direction. That is, the rounded surface or ball is urged toward the bottom of the trochlear groove. This causes the rounded surface or ball to self-locate into the deepest point of the trochlear groove. The anterior-most point in the intercondylar notch and the deepest part of the trochlear groove anteriorly are points that accurately determine the anteroposterior femoral axis, and the device includes a marking device or guide member that is fixed perpendicular to this axis. A surgeon, therefore, has an accurate indication of the correct femoral component rotation for proper implant position in a knee replacement or other surgical procedure.