Endoscopic portal protective shield assembly

1. A method of treating a spinal injury or defect using a shield assembly comprising the steps of:

inserting the shield assembly into a surgical field, wherein the shield assembly comprises an elongate portal shaft and an elongated protective shield, wherein an interior portion of the elongated protective shield is positioned inside a portal of the elongate portal shaft and an exterior portion of the elongated protective shield is positioned outside the portal of the elongate portal shaft, wherein the elongated protective shield cannot rotate relative to the elongate portal shaft, and wherein the interior portion of the elongated protective shield abuts against an interior surface of the elongate portal shaft;

viewing a nerve root, blood vessel or tissue through the portal;

positioning a distal end of the elongated protective shield between the nerve root, blood vessel or tissue and the portal; and

withdrawing the elongate portal shaft from the surgical field, wherein the distal end of the elongated protective shield remains positioned in the surgical field.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein withdrawing the elongate portal shaft from the elongated protective shield comprises sliding the elongate portal shaft proximally relative to the elongated protective shield.

3. The method claim 1 , wherein the elongate portal shaft is cylindrical or tubular.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the elongated protective shield extends distally beyond a distal end of the elongate portal shaft.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the distal end of the elongated protective shield comprises contacting an anatomic region.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the elongate portal shaft comprises a slotted opening at the distal end extending partially along the elongate portal shaft.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of abutting a tab on the elongate portal shaft against a handle of the elongated protective shield to affix the elongate portal shaft to the elongated protective shield.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the elongate portal shaft is affixed to the elongated protective shield via alignment of an opening on the elongate portal shaft with an opening on the elongated protective shield.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the elongate portal shaft comprises an elongated slot extending from a distal end of the elongate portal shaft and terminating near a proximal end of the elongate portal shaft.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the elongated protective shield comprises a rib connecting the interior portion to the exterior portion of the elongated protective shield.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the exterior portion and the interior portion of the elongated protective shield are spaced by the rib to receive and hold the elongate portal shaft adjacent the elongated slot.

12. A method of using a shield assembly comprising the steps of:

inserting the shield assembly into a surgical field, the shield assembly comprising an elongate portal shaft and an elongated protective shield, wherein an interior portion of the elongated protective shield is positioned inside a portal of the elongate portal shaft and an exterior portion of the elongated protective shield is positioned outside the portal of the elongate portal shaft, and wherein the interior portion of the elongated protective shield abuts against an interior surface of the elongate portal shaft;

viewing a nerve root, blood vessel, or tissue through the portal;

rotating the shield assembly, wherein the elongated protective shield cannot rotate relative to the elongate portal shaft;

positioning a distal end of the elongated protective shield between the nerve root, blood vessel, or tissue and the portal;

locking in place the elongated protective shield to a surgical table after positioning the distal end of the elongated protective shield; and

withdrawing the elongate portal shaft from the elongated protective shield while the elongated protective shield remains locked in place.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein withdrawing the elongate portal shaft comprises sliding the elongate portal shaft proximally relative to the elongated protective shield.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the elongate portal shaft is cylindrical or tubular.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein a distal end of the elongated protective shield extends distally beyond a distal end of the elongate portal shaft.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the elongate portal shaft comprises a slotted opening at the distal end extending partially along the elongate portal shaft.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of abutting a tab on the elongate portal shaft against a handle of the elongated protective shield to affix the elongate portal shaft to the elongated protective shield.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the elongate portal shaft is affixed to the elongated protective shield via alignment of an opening on the elongate portal shaft with an opening on the elongated protective shield.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the elongate portal shaft comprises an elongated slot extending from a distal end of the elongate portal shaft and terminating near a proximal end of the elongate portal shaft.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the elongated protective shield comprises a rib connecting the interior portion to the exterior portion of the elongated protective shield.