A patellar cutting guide is particularly useful in a method of minimally
invasive knee arthroplasty in which an incision is made along the medial
or lateral aspect of a patient's knee, exposing the knee joint. The
patellar cutting guide includes a clamp configured to be located exterior
to the knee over the anterior portion of the patella, a stop having at
least one portion configured to extend through an incision to a location
posterior to the patella, and a cutting guide defining a cutting slot.
The clamp may have outwardly extending spikes for passage through the
tissue overlying the patella and into engagement with the patella. The
stop is movable relative to the clamp and/or cutting guide. In one
embodiment, the cutting guide is offset laterally and posteriorly
relative to the clamp so that the slot is aligned with a medially or
laterally-formed incision in the knee.