Anterior spinal implants for reducing spinal malalignment and associated systems and methods

Abstract

Anterior spinal implant devices for reducing spinal malalignment and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A spinal implant system configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, a first vertebral support implanted at an anterior region of a first vertebra of a patient, a second vertebral support implanted at an anterior region of a second vertebra inferior to the first vertebra, and an alignment system configured to be releasably coupled to the first and second vertebral supports. The first and second vertebral supports can extend into and interlock with each other within an interbody space between the first and second vertebrae when the first and second vertebral supports are aligned. The alignment system is configured to reduce angular, vertical, and linear malalignment of the first and second vertebrae relative to each other.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A spinal implant system, comprising:
 a first vertebral support having a first anterior portion configured to be affixed to an anterior region of a first vertebra of a patient, the first vertebral support having a first intervertebral portion that extends within a space between the first vertebra and the second vertebra, wherein the first intervertebral portion comprises a first engagement feature;   a second vertebral support having a second anterior portion configured to be affixed to an anterior region of the second vertebra, the second vertebral support having a second intervertebral portion that extends within the space between the first vertebra and the second vertebra, wherein the second intervertebral portion comprises a second engagement feature, and wherein the first and second engagement features are configured to interlock with each other; and   an alignment system configured to operably couple to the first vertebral support and to the second vertebral support to adjust an angular, vertical, and linear posterior alignment of the first and second vertebral support relative to each other when affixed to the first and second vertebrae.   
     
     
         2 . The spinal implant system of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment system comprises:
 a first attachment component configured to releasably attach to the first vertebral support;   a second attachment component configured to releasably attach to the second vertebral support; and   a distraction assembly configured to be operably coupled to the first attachment component and to the second attachment component, wherein the distraction assembly is configured to vertically displace the first vertebral support relative to the second vertebral support when coupled to the first and second vertebrae.   
     
     
         3 . The spinal implant system of  claim 2 , wherein the first attachment component comprises a first shaft and a tube configured to receive the first shaft, the tube having at least a first hole, and wherein the second attachment component comprises a second shaft having a plurality of second holes extending along a length of the second shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The spinal implant system of  claim 1 , wherein the first vertebral support is uncoupled from the second vertebral support prior to the first engagement feature being interlocked with the second engagement feature. 
     
     
         5 . The spinal implant system of  claim 1 , further comprising an anterior reinforcement plate sized and shaped to fixedly attach to a medial portion of the first vertebral support and the second vertebral support. 
     
     
         6 . The spinal implant system of  claim 5 , wherein the anterior reinforcement plate is a rigid reinforcement plate. 
     
     
         7 . A spinal implant system, comprising:
 a first vertebral support having a first anterior portion configured to be affixed to an anterior region of a first vertebra of a patient, the first vertebral support having a first intervertebral portion that extends within a space between the first vertebra and the second vertebra, wherein the first intervertebral portion comprises a first engagement feature; and   a second vertebral support having a second anterior portion configured to be affixed to an anterior region of the second vertebra, the second vertebral support having a second intervertebral portion that extends within the space between the first vertebra and the second vertebra, wherein the second intervertebral portion comprises a second engagement feature, and wherein the first and second engagement features are configured to interlock with each other,
 wherein the first engagement feature includes a first raised ledge and the second engagement feature includes a second raised ledge, and wherein the first and second raised ledges are configured to engage with each other when the first engagement feature is interlocked with the second engagement feature. 
   
     
     
         8 . The spinal implant system of  claim 7 , wherein the first raised ledge comprises a first curved surface and the second raised ledge comprises a second curved surface, and wherein at least part of the first curved surface is configured to contact at least part of the second curved surface when the first engagement feature is interlocked with the second engagement feature. 
     
     
         9 . The spinal implant system of  claim 7 , wherein the first raised ledge comprises a first angled surface, wherein the second raised ledge comprises a second angled surface, and wherein at least part of the first angled surface is configured to contact at least part of the second angled surface when the first engagement feature is interlocked with the second engagement feature. 
     
     
         10 . The spinal implant system of  claim 7 , further comprising an alignment system configured to operably couple to the first vertebral support and to the second vertebral support, wherein the alignment system further comprises:
 a first attachment component configured to releasably attach to the first vertebral support;   a second attachment component configured to releasably attach to the second vertebral support; and   a distraction assembly configured to be operably coupled to the first attachment component and to the second attachment component, wherein the distraction assembly is configured to vertically displace the first vertebral support relative to the second vertebral support when coupled to the first and second vertebrae.   
     
     
         11 . The spinal implant system of  claim 10 , wherein the first attachment component comprises a first shaft and a tube configured to receive the first shaft, the tube having at least a first hole, and wherein the second attachment component comprises a second shaft having a plurality of second holes extending along a length of the second shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The spinal implant system of  claim 7 , wherein the first vertebral support is uncoupled from the second vertebral support prior to the first engagement feature being interlocked with the second engagement feature. 
     
     
         13 . The spinal implant system of  claim 7 , further comprising an anterior reinforcement plate sized and shaped to fixedly attach to a medial portion of the first vertebral support and the second vertebral support. 
     
     
         14 . The spinal implant system of  claim 13 , wherein the anterior reinforcement plate is a rigid reinforcement plate. 
     
     
         15 . A spinal implant system, comprising:
 a first vertebral support having a first anterior portion configured to be affixed to an anterior region of a first vertebra of a patient, the first vertebral support having a first intervertebral portion that extends within a space between the first vertebra and the second vertebra, wherein the first intervertebral portion comprises a first engagement feature;   a second vertebral support having a second anterior portion configured to be affixed to an anterior region of the second vertebra, the second vertebral support having a second intervertebral portion that extends within the space between the first vertebra and the second vertebra, wherein the second intervertebral portion comprises a second engagement feature, and wherein the first and second engagement features are configured to interlock with each other;   a plurality of first screws configured to attach the first vertebral support to the first vertebra, wherein the first screws are configured to extend through two separate portions of cortical bone of the first vertebra and enter the first vertebra through an anterior face of the first vertebra; and   a plurality of second screws configured to attach the second vertebral support to the second vertebra, wherein the second screws are configured to extend through two separate portions of cortical bone of the second vertebra and enter the second vertebra through the anterior face of the second vertebra.   
     
     
         16 . The spinal implant system of  claim 15 , further comprising an alignment system configured to operably couple to the first vertebral support and to the second vertebral support, wherein the alignment system further comprises:
 a first attachment component configured to releasably attach to the first vertebral support;   a second attachment component configured to releasably attach to the second vertebral support; and   a distraction assembly configured to be operably coupled to the first attachment component and to the second attachment component, wherein the distraction assembly is configured to vertically displace the first vertebral support relative to the second vertebral support when coupled to the first and second vertebrae.   
     
     
         17 . The spinal implant system of  claim 16 , wherein the first attachment component comprises a first shaft and a tube configured to receive the first shaft, the tube having at least a first hole, and wherein the second attachment component comprises a second shaft having a plurality of second holes extending along a length of the second shaft. 
     
     
         18 . The spinal implant system of  claim 15 , wherein the first vertebral support is uncoupled from the second vertebral support prior to the first engagement feature being interlocked with the second engagement feature. 
     
     
         19 . The spinal implant system of  claim 15 , further comprising an anterior reinforcement plate sized and shaped to fixedly attach to a medial portion of the first vertebral support and the second vertebral support. 
     
     
         20 . The spinal implant system of  claim 19 , wherein the anterior reinforcement plate is a rigid reinforcement plate.