Posterior oblique lumbar arthrodesis

• US 6,626,905 B1
• Filed: 08/02/2000
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education, Zimmer Spine, Inc. (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sulzer Spine Tech, Inc., University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
• Inventors: Houfburg, Rodney L., Schmiel, Daniel G., Welch, William C., McPhillips, Daniel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Ralph A.
• Application Number:
  US09/630,793
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 606/60, 606/61, 623/17.11, 623/17.12, 623/17.13, 623/17.14, 623/17.15, 623/17.16
• US Class Current: 606/279
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/914 Toolkit for installing or removing spinal positioner or stabilizer

Abstract

Instruments and methods for spinal stabilization are disclosed. In preferred embodiments, the invention provides greater stabilization of vertebral bodies through methods including combinations of bilateral external fixation systems and intervertebral implants to provide greater fusion stability, greater motion segment stability, faster fusion, reduced pain, reduced chance of migration, reduced chance of subsidence, etc.

Claims

1. A surgical procedure for stabilizing an intervertebral joint between adjacent first and second vertebral bodies, said first and second vertebral bodies each having a first lateral side and a second lateral side on opposite sides of a sagittal plane passing through a midline of said first and second vertebral bodies, the procedure comprising a step of:

anchoring a first pedicle screw into said first lateral side of said first vertebral body;

anchoring a first pedicle screw into said first lateral side of said second vertebral body;

forming an implant bore between said adjacent first and second vertebrae for receiving an intervertebral implant; and

inserting an intervertebral implant having a longitudinal axis into said implant bore, said longitudinal axis of said intervertebral implant oriented oblique to said sagittal plane.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of fixing a connecting rod to said first pedicle screw of said first vertebral body and said first pedicle screw of said second vertebral body to stabilize said first and second vertebral bodies.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of fixing said connecting rod to said first pedicle screws to stabilize said first and second vertebral bodies is performed before forming said implant bore.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said implant bore has a longitudinal bore axis and said bore axis is formed at an angle oblique to said sagittal plane, said oblique angle being about 10°

-45°

.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said oblique angle is approximately 22°

degrees to said sagittal plane.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first and second vertebral bodies are distracted before forming said implant bore.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising steps of:

anchoring a second pedicle screw into said second lateral side of said first vertebral body;

anchoring a second pedicle screw into said second lateral side of said second vertebral body; and

fixing a connecting rod to said second pedicle screw of said first vertebral body and said second pedicle screw of said second vertebral body.

8. A surgical procedure for stabilizing an intervertebral joint between adjacent first and second vertebral bodies, said first and second vertebral bodies each having a first lateral side and a second lateral side on opposite sides of a sagittal plane passing through a midline of said first and second vertebral bodies, the procedure comprising a step of:

anchoring a first pedicle screw into said first lateral side of said first vertebral body;

anchoring a first pedicle screw into said first lateral side of said second vertebral body;

distracting said first and second vertebral bodies;

forming an implant bore between said adjacent first and second vertebrae for receiving an intervertebral implant;

inserting an intervertebral implant having a longitudinal axis into said implant bore, said longitudinal axis of said intervertebral implant oriented oblique to said sagittal plane; and

fixing a connecting rod to said first pedicle screw of said first vertebral body and said first pedicle screw of said second vertebral body to stabilize said first and second vertebral bodies.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein said step of fixing said connecting rod to said first pedicle screws to stabilize said first and second vertebral bodies is performed before forming said implant bore.

10. The method according to claim 8 wherein said implant bore has a longitudinal bore axis and said bore axis is formed at an angle oblique to said sagittal plane, said oblique angle being about 10°

-45°

.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein said oblique angle is approximately 22°

degrees to said sagittal plane.

12. The method according to claim 8 further comprising steps of:

anchoring a second pedicle screw into said second lateral side of said first vertebral body;

anchoring a second pedicle screw into said second lateral side of said second vertebral body; and

fixing a connecting rod to said second pedicle screw of said first vertebral body and said second pedicle screw of said second vertebral body.

13. A surgical procedure for stabilizing an intervertebral joint between adjacent first and second vertebral bodies, said first and second vertebral bodies each having a first lateral side and a second lateral side on opposite sides of a sagittal plane passing through a midline of said first and second vertebral bodies, the procedure comprising a step of:

anchoring a first pedicle screw into said first lateral side of said first vertebral body;

anchoring a first pedicle screw into said first lateral side of said second vertebral body;

distracting said first and second vertebral bodies;

fixing a connecting rod to said first pedicle screw of said first vertebral body and said first pedicle screw of said second vertebral body to stabilize said first and second vertebral bodies;

forming an implant bore between said adjacent first and second vertebrae for receiving an intervertebral implant, wherein said implant bore has a longitudinal bore axis and said bore axis is formed at an angle oblique to said sagittal plane, said oblique angle being about 10°

-45°

; and

inserting an intervertebral implant having a longitudinal axis into said implant bore, said longitudinal axis of said intervertebral implant oriented oblique to said sagittal plane.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein said oblique angle is approximately 22°

degrees to said sagittal plane.

15. The method according to claim 13 further comprising steps of:

anchoring a second pedicle screw into said second lateral side of said first vertebral body;

anchoring a second pedicle screw into said second lateral side of said second vertebral body; and

fixing a connecting rod to said second pedicle screw of said first vertebral body and said second pedicle screw of said second vertebral body.