SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS USEFUL FOR ENDOSCOPIC SPINAL PROCEDURES

摘要

The present invention provides endoscopic instrumentation and surgical techniques especially useful for accessing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc. Vertebrae spreading instruments are provided for spreading adjacent vertebrae to facilitate access to the intervertebral disc are. The disclosed surgical method uses an anterior approach to access the intervertebral disc and spreads adjacent vertebrae utilizing an endoscopic vertebrae spreading instrument.