METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LATERALLY ACCESSING AN INTERVERTEBRAL DISC SPACE

摘要

A method for laterally accessing a lumbosacral intervertebral disc space of a patient includes positioning the patient laterally and making an incision to provide lateral access to the patient's iliac crest. A bracket (24) may be placed on the iliac crest and a retractor (28) may be attached to the bracket such that a distal end of the retractor is positioned over the lumbosacral intervertebral disc space while a proximal end of the retractor provides an entry space for a surgeon to insert at least one tool (90). The surgeon may perform a surgical procedure on the lumbosacral intervertebral disc space through a channel (49) defined by the retractor.