A replacement device for resurfacing a joint surface of a femur and a method
of
making and installing such a 5 device is provided. The custom replacement device
is designed to substantially fit the trochlear groove surface, of an individual
femur. Thereby creating a "customized" replacement device for that individual femur
and maintaining the original kinematics of the joint. The replacement device may
be defined by four boundary points, and a first and a second surface. The first
of four points is 3 to 5 mm from the point of attachment of the anterior cruciate
ligament to the femur. The second point is near the bottom edge of the end of the
natural articulatar cartilage. The third point is at the top ridge of the right
condyle and the fourth point at the top ridge of the left condyle of the femur.
The top surface is designed so as to maintain centrally directed tracking of the
patella perpendicular to the plane established by the distal end of the femoral
condyles and aligned with the center of the femoral head.
