Apparatus and method for determining implant size

摘要

A method and apparatus for determining the space between adjacent spinous process. A trial implant instrument contains a trial sizer and an elongated body. The trial sizer and elongated body are pivotally mounted so that as the trial sizer is urged between adjacent spinous process, a physician may rotate the elongated body through a range of motion and not place any torsional forces upon the trial sizer. The method comprises several steps whereby a physician inserts and removes trial implant instruments with sizers of varying diameters to determine the space between adjacent spinous process.