Sealing element in the form of a strap

摘要

A method and apparatus for introducing a shank (5) of a prosthesis into a bone cavity is disclosed. A strap 1 having an loop portion 2 and an end portion 3 is wrapped around the shank. The end portion of the strap is then clamped by a clamping device 4 to secure the strap around the shank. The bone cavity is filled with bone cement and the lower end of the shank is introduced into the bone cavity thereby forming a gap between the shank and the outer wall of the bone cavity. A strap substantially seals this gap to minimize leakage of bone cement from the bone cavity. The clamping device 4 allows the end portion of the strap to slip relative to the clamping device when a threshold force is applied against the clamping device. In this manner, the strap will conform to the increasing cross-sectional area of the elongate body of the shank as the shank is introduced into the bone cavity.