System and methods for inserting a vertebral spacer

The present invention provides vertebral spacers having a lower surface and an upper surface, an anterior face and a posterior face extending from the lower surface, and at least one guiding groove for engaging an insertion tool. A system for delivering a vertebral spacer to the spinal column of a patient, includes an insertion tool, an optional guiding tool, a pusher, a vertebral spacer, and a cutting tool. The insertion tool accepts any of a pusher, a vertebral spacer, or a cutting tool and has at least one spacer guide for engaging with a guiding groove of a vertebral spacer. The vertebral spacer is inserted into a patient by inserting the insertion tool into an intervertebral space, engaging the guiding groove of a vertebral spacer with a space guide of the insertion tool, advancing a pusher into the insertion tool, thereby pushing the vertebral spacer into the intervertebral space and thereafter removing the pusher and the insertion tool. The cutting tool is optionally used to chisel at least one vertebral space receiving slot in the vertebrae. A hardening biocompatible composition also maybe delivered, to bond the vertebral spacer to an adjacent vertebra or be an osteogenic composition to promote bone growth.