US Patent 7476255 Soft tissue attachment system and method

A system and method is provided in which natural bone removed during a joint surgery is retained along with the natural attachment of the associated soft tissues. For instance, in a hip surgery, a portion of the greater trochanter is removed while retaining the soft tissue attachments. An implant and the bone portion are provided with mating features, such as a keystone configuration. The keystone configuration can include mating male and female dovetail configurations. The bone portion can be engaged to the mating feature of the implant to support the natural bone and its soft tissue attachment in an anatomically appropriate position.