Multipurpose tibial template

Claim 1

A multipurpose tibial template for use in the implantation of an adjustable total knee prosthesis including a femoral component and a tibial component comprising a platform member consisting of two spaced apart, elongated sections connected by a bridge section, and two removable and replaceable condylar bearing members lying on and retained by the two elongated sections respectively, said tibial template comprising: a Y-shaped element comprising a flat handle integrally extended at one end by two flat, elongated prongs, said elongated prongs being symmetrically arranged with respect to a vertical plane passing through the axis of the Y-shaped element perpendicularly to the plane thereof, each prong having substantially the same contour as each of the elongated section of the tibial component to be implanted, respectively, and comprising a central hole extending perpendicularly to the plane of the Y-shaped element; an alignment rod fixable onto said flat handle near its integrally extended end, said alignment rod being substantially perpendicular to the plane of the Y-shaped element; and a set of provisional plateaus of different thicknesses for each prong, for determining the thickness of the condylar bearing members to be used in the total knee prosthesis, each provisional plateau comprising an upper concave surface having substantially the same shape and contour as the upper surface of the condylar bearing member of the knee prosthesis to which it corresponds, and a lower flat surface downwardly extended by a central projection insertable in the central hole of the prong corresponding to said plateau to retain the latter onto said prong.