A method for aligning a patient implant, the method comprising the steps of: generating a digital implant model of the patient implant； determining a desired alignment of the patient implant based on predetermined alignment data； imaging an operative area of the patient to create patient-specific implant reference data； creating a virtual overlay of the digital implant model in the determined desired alignment relative to the patient-specific implant reference data； and operatively aligning the patient implant using the virtual overlay. A patient implant system to implement the method is also provided.
