METHODS AND INSTRUMENTS FOR INTERBODY SURGICAL TECHNIQUES

摘要

This invention relates to methods and instruments for performing a surgical procedure in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae. The instruments include a distractor (18) and a cutting instrument (52). In one embodiment the distractor includes a body portion (20) and a pair of flanges (26, 28) extending along opposite sides of the body portion (20) such that a slot (42, 44) is formed between the flanges (26, 28) and the body portion (20). The cutting instrument (52) is positionable over the body portion (20) and into the slots (42, 44) of the distractor (18) so that the flanges (26, 28) are positioned between the cutting instrument (52) and the adjacent tissue.