Zero Profile Spinal Fusion Cage

摘要

An interbody fusion cage having upper and lower canals for receiving the heads of bone screws that have been pre-installed in opposing vertebral body endplates. The proximal wall of the cage preferably has a vertical slot that communicates with each canal and is adapted to allow access by a screwdriver and tightening of the screws.

主权项

1. A method of inserting a fusion cage into an intervertebral disc space formed by upper and lower vertebral endplates, comprising the sequential steps of:
inserting a trial having a guide surface canal into the disc space; drilling or awling a hole through a trial drill guide; inserting first and second screws into the upper and lower vertebral endplates, the first screw having a shaft and a screw head; removing the trial; inserting a fusion cage having a guide surface canal into the disc space so that the screw head is received in a distal portion of the canal; and distally translating the cage into the disc space so that the screw head becomes received in a proximal portion of the cage canal.