Apparatus and method of inserting spinal implants

1. A method for performing a surgical procedure, comprising the steps of:

providing a surgical retractor including an elongate member defining a longitudinal axis, the elongate member including proximal and distal end portions and defining an opening therethrough to receive instrumentation, the distal end portion configured for insertion at least partially into an intervertebral space between adjacent opposed vertebrae and having two spaced apart retractor arms, each retractor arm including first and second supporting surfaces laterally displaced with respect to each other and to the longitudinal axis;

distracting the adjacent vertebrae by at least partially inserting the retractor arms of the retractor within the intervertebral space whereby the first supporting surface of each retractor arm engages one vertebrae and the second supporting surface of each retractor arm engages the other vertebrae such that the adjacent opposed vertebrae are laterally displaced; and

performing the surgical procedure.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of performing includes introducing surgical instrumentation within the opening of the surgical retractor, the surgical instrumentation being utilized to perform the surgical procedure.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the step of performing the surgical procedure includes introducing a fusion implant through the opening in the surgical retractor and between the distracted vertebrae to effect fusion thereof.

4. A method for fusing adjacent vertebral bodies, comprising the steps of:

a) accessing the intervertebral disc space;

b) providing a retractor including a retractor sleeve having proximal and distal end portions, the distal end portion having opposed retractor arms extending in a general longitudinal direction;

c) positioning the retractor arms within the intervertebral disc space whereby first and second supporting surfaces of each arm contact opposed vertebral bodies;

d) introducing a drill instrument into the sleeve and advancing the drill instrument within the sleeve to the disc space;

e) forming with the drill instrument a bore that penetrates at least partially into each opposed vertebral body;

f) removing the drill instrument from the sleeve; and

g) introducing a fusion implant into the bore.

5. The method according to claim 4 further including the steps of:

h) introducing a tap instrument into the sleeve and advancing the tap instrument within the sleeve to the disc space;

i) tapping with the tap instrument a thread within the bore;

j) removing the tap from the retractor sleeve;

k) introducing into the sleeve a fusion cage having a cage body with an external thread; and

l) screwing the cage body into the threaded bore.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the step of introducing a fusion implant includes introducing a fusion implant having a plurality of openings extending through the cage body.

7. The method according to claim 6 further including the step of filling the cage body with bone-growth inducing substances.

8. The method according to claim 7 further including the step of mounting an end cap to the open end of the cage body to enclose the bone-growth inducing substances within the cage body.

9. The method according to claim 4 wherein the retractor arms define a dimension between the first and second supporting surfaces sufficient to distract the opposed vertebral bodies and wherein the step of positioning the retractor arms includes distracting the opposed vertebral bodies.

10. A method for performing a surgical procedure comprising:

providing a surgical retractor including an elongate sleeve member having proximal and distal end portions and defining an opening therethrough to receive instrumentation, the distal end portion configured for insertion at least partially into an intervertebral space between adjacent opposed vertebrae;

distracting the adjacent vertebrae by at least partially inserting the distal end portion of the sleeve member within the intervertebral space;

inserting instrumentation through the opening in the surgical retractor; and

performing the surgical procedure.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the step of performing the surgical spinal procedure includes utilizing the instrumentation inserted through the opening in the surgical retractor to perform the surgical spinal procedure.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the elongate sleeve member of the surgical retractor defines an axial opening and wherein the step of inserting includes positioning instrumentation through the axial opening to perform the surgical spinal procedure.

13. A method for performing a surgical procedure comprising:

providing a surgical retractor including an elongate hollow member having proximal and distal end portions, the distal end portion having first and second stationary retractor arms configured for insertion at least partially into an intervertebral space defined between upper and lower opposed vertebrae;

distracting the adjacent vertebrae to a predetermined distracted position by at least partially inserting the retractor arms within the intervertebral space; and

performing the surgical procedure.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein each retractor arm includes first and second opposed supporting surfaces and wherein the step of distracting includes at least partially inserting the retractor arms whereby the first and second supporting surfaces of each retractor arm respectively engage the upper and lower vertebrae.