Apparatus and method for performing spinal surgery

Abstract

A cutting guide for use in spinal surgery includes a body member with a first surface and an opposite, second surface. The cutting guide includes slots and corner holes to guide surgical instruments therethrough. The cutting guide can also include at least one fixation tab with a hole for receiving a fixation device therethrough. A scaffold device includes a sidewall defining an internal cavity. The scaffold device also includes at least one fixation tab with a hole for receiving a fixation device therethrough.

1 . A cutting guide for use in removing bone from a vertebral body, comprising:
 a cutting guide body including (i) a first surface with a first edge to face toward and to contact the vertebral body and (ii) a second, opposite surface to face away from the vertebral body, the first edge including at least two concave portions;   first and second slots for guiding a cutting tool to cut into the vertebral body along a length of the first and second slots, the slots extend from the first surface to the second surface, the first and second slots positioned to intersect each other; and   an additional slot extending from the first surface to the second surface and configured to slide over a positioning pin inserted into the vertebral body to temporarily position the cutting guide on the vertebral body.   
   
   
       2 . The cutting guide according to  claim 1 , wherein the cutting guide body comprises four side walls extending between the first surface and second surface. 
   
   
       3 . The cutting guide according to  claim 1 , further comprising a corner hole positioned at an intersection between the first and second slots, the corner hole extending from the first surface to the second surface to guide a cutting tool, the corner hole configured to receive a drill to cut a rounded corner between the first and second slots. 
   
   
       4 . The cutting guide according to  claim 3 , further comprising third and fourth slots, the third slot intersecting with the first slot and the fourth slot, the fourth slot configured to intersect with the second slot and third slot. 
   
   
       5 . The cutting guide according to  claim 4 , further comprising a corner hole positioned at each intersection of the slots. 
   
   
       6 . The cutting guide according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hole extending from the first surface to the second surface to receive a fastener therethrough. 
   
   
       7 . The cutting guide according to  claim 2 , further comprising a first fixation tab protruding from one of the four side walls, the fixation tab including a hole to receive a fixation device therethrough to releasably fix the cutting guide to a vertebral body. 
   
   
       8 . The cutting guide according to  claim 6 , further comprising a second fixation tab protruding from a side wall opposite to the one of the four side walls with the first fixation tab, the second fixation tab including a hole to receive a fixation device therethrough to releasably fix the cutting guide to a vertebral body. 
   
   
       9 . The cutting guide according to  claim 1 , wherein the cutting guide provides a platform for attachment of a surgical instrument. 
   
   
       10 . The cutting guide according to  claim 1 , further comprising a protruding spike to fix the cutting guide to a vertebral body. 
   
   
       11 . The cutting guide according to  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of fixing holes extending from the first surface to the second surface to receive a fastener therethrough to releasably fix the cutting guide to a vertebral body, the plurality of fixing holes are positioned adjacent the corner hole. 
   
   
       12 . The cutting guide according to  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of fixing holes extending from the first surface to the second surface to receive a fastener therethrough to releasably fix the cutting guide to a vertebral body, a set of the plurality of fixing holes are positioned adjacent each of the corner holes. 
   
   
       13 . A scaffold device for use in removing bone from a vertebral body, comprising:
 a sidewall defining an internal cavity, the sidewall including (i) a first edge to face toward and to contact the vertebral body and (ii) a second, opposite edge to face away from the vertebral body;   a first fixation tab protruding from the sidewall, the fixation tab including a through-hole to receive a fixing device therethrough to fix the scaffold device to a vertebral body.   
   
   
       14 . The scaffold device according to  claim 13 , wherein the sidewall comprises four walls arranged to form a rectangular cross-section. 
   
   
       15 . The scaffold device according to  claim 13 , wherein the sidewall comprises four walls, and wherein the scaffold device further comprises a second fixation tab protruding from one of the four walls opposite the first fixation tab, the second fixation tab including a through-hole to receive a fixing device therethrough to fix the scaffold device to a vertebral body. 
   
   
       16 . The scaffold device according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the four walls includes a hole extending from the first edge to the second edge to receive a fastener therethrough. 
   
   
       17 . The scaffold device according to  claim 13 , wherein the sidewall includes a slot extending from the first edge to the second edge, and configured to slide over a positioning pin inserted into the vertebral body or intervertebral disc to temporarily position the scaffold on the vertebral body.