Implant for replacing a vertebra

1. An implant for replacing at least part of a vertebra, the implant comprising two parts telescoping with respect to a longitudinal axis adapted to be threadably joined together and enabling a total dimension (L) of the implant to be adjusted each part having a fixed length, the two parts having respective male and female threads and forming a screw connection with each other, whereby said dimension L can be adjusted by the relative rotation of said two parts, each of the two parts respectively contacting first and second vertebral surfaces and an anti-rotation element engageable with both of said two telescoping parts to selectively prevent the relative rotation therebetween wherein the first part is a female part adapted to receive the second part therein and a deformable part of the first part including a body and a flange which can be moved relative to the body to immobilize the second part by wedging it wherein the flange extends radially outwardly of said first part.

2. The implant as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flange and the first part includes a slot therein which slot can be elastically deformed to cause said wedging.

3. The implant as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flange has a threaded bore to receive a member for deforming a slot in the flange relative to the body.

4. The implant as set forth in claim 3 wherein the longitudinal axis of the bore is parallel to the longitudinal axis.

5. The implant as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flange extends in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal axis.

6. The implant as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of the first ends of the first and second parts have teeth.

7. The implant as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second parts have a cavity and openings connecting the cavity to the outside of the parts.

8. A spinal implant comprising:

a first generally tubular part having a threaded inner surface and an end surface for contacting a vertebrae;

a second generally tubular part having a threaded outer surface, said second part outer surface threaded into said threaded inner surface of said first part for relative movement between the parts along a longitudinal axis, said second part having an end surface for contacting a vertebra; and

an anti-rotation device connected to one of said first or second parts for selectively engaging the other of said first or second parts for selectively allowing or preventing relative rotation of said threaded surfaces wherein said first part including a body with a flange, said flange including a slot which slot can be deformed relative to the first part immobilize the second part by wedging it wherein the flange extends radially outwardly of said first part.

9. The implant as set forth in claim 8 wherein the flange and the body each have a bore to receive a member for deforming the flange relative to the body.

10. The implant as set forth in claim 9 wherein a longitudinal axis of the bore is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first and second parts.

11. The implant as set forth in claim 8 wherein the flange extends in a plane generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

12. The implant as set forth in claim 8 wherein at least one of the parts has teeth formed on said end surface for contacting a vertebra.

13. The implant as set forth in claim 8 wherein first and second parts have an inner cavity defined by walls and openings in the walls connecting the cavity to the outside of the implant.

14. The implant as set forth in claim 8 wherein a screw deforms said slot and said threads on said first part to prevent movement thereof with respect to said threads on said second part.

15. An implant for replacing at least part of a vertebra comprising:

a first part having a first bone contacting end and a second end;

a second part having a first bone contacting end and a second end, said second part coupled to said first part along a longitudinal axis by a threaded connection, the threaded connection allowing the relative rotation of said first and second parts effecting a relative movement between the first ends of said first and second parts along with said longitudinal axis, said first part including a radial flange extending radially outwardly of said first part, having a slot formed therein, said flange adjacent said second end of said first part said slot extending radially with respect to said axis into said part and having a width adjustable by a force acting on said flange in a direction generally parallel to said axis.

16. The implant as set forth in claim 15 wherein the first and second parts are received in telescoping engagement with one another along said axis.

17. The implant as set forth in claim 16 wherein the first part has an inner cylindrical surface with female threads and said second part has an outer cylindrical surface with male threads for engaging said female threads.

18. The implant as set forth in claim 17 wherein said slot intersects said female threads.

19. The implant as set forth in claim 18 wherein the width adjustment of said slot causes said female threads to wedge against said male threads thereby locking said first and second parts against rotation.