The present invention relates in certain embodiments to components of a hip-
joint prosthesis. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to a leaf-like
femoral shaft for use as part of a hip-
joint prosthesis, and instruments (e.g., a
rasp) and methods for implanting the shaft. The shaft includes an anchoring section extending between a proximal region and a distal end of the shaft. The shaft has a cross-sectional contour that defines a lateral side, a
medial side, an anterior side and a posterior side. A corresponding
rasp is preferably provided for each
femoral shaft. The
rasp is inserted into the
femur to form a cavity having generally the same configuration as the rasp. The shaft is configured to be over-dimensioned in at least one of the anterior-posterior direction and medial-lateral direction relative to the rasped
femur cavity. In one embodiment, the distance between diagonally opposite corner junctions of the shaft is substantially equal to the distance between corresponding diagonally opposite corner junctions of the
femur cavity, so as to inhibit excess stress on the corticalis.