Apparatus, systems and methods for achieving anterior lumbar interbody fusion

1. A method for anterior lumbar interbody fusion, the method comprising:

creating a first insertion path from a first anterolateral region of a selected lumbar vertebra in a caudal direction across an intervertebral disc into a first opposite anterolateral region of an adjacent lumbar vertebra, wherein the first anterolateral region and the first opposite anterolateral region are on opposite lateral sides of the spine;

providing a first bone fixation implant comprising an elongated implant structure having a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional profile transverse to the longitudinal axis that is defined by at least one apex, the cross-sectional profile extending from a proximal portion of the elongated implant structureto a distal portion of the elongated implant structure, wherein the elongated implant structure comprises an exterior surface region treated to provide bony in-growth or through-growth along the implant structure; and

inserting the first bone fixation implant through the insertion path laterally from the first anterolateral region of the selected lumbar vertebra in a caudal direction across the intervertebral disc into the first opposite anterolateral region of the adjacent lumbar vertebra.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first insertion path is created in a minimally invasive manner without prior removal of the intervertebral disc.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first insertion path comprises a bore sized approximately at or approximately about an outer maximum dimension of the first bone fixation implant.

4. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

creating a second insertion path from a second anterolateral region of the selected lumbar vertebra in a caudal direction across the intervertebral disc into a second opposite anterolateral region of the adjacent lumbar vertebra, wherein the second anterolateral region and the second opposite anterolateral region are on opposite lateral sides of the spine, wherein the first anterolateral region and the second anterolateral region are on opposite lateral sides of the spine; and

inserting a second bone fixation implant through the second insertion path laterally from the second anterolateral region of the selected lumbar vertebra in a caudal direction across the intervertebral disc into the second opposite anterolateral region of the adjacent lumbar vertebra such that the first bone fixation implant and second bone fixation implant appearing to cross each other in transit through the intervertebral disc when viewed anteriorly.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the selected lumbar vertebra is the lumbar vertebra L 4 and the adjacent lumbar vertebra is the lumbar vertebra L 5 .

6. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the first bone fixation implant and the second bone fixation implant are separate and freely moveable from each other.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the selected lumbar vertebra is the lumbar vertebra L 4 and the adjacent lumbar vertebra is the lumbar vertebra L 5 .

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the bony in-growth region or through-growth region comprises a porous plasma spray coating on the implant structure.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion of the elongated implant structure is configured to engage the cortical bone of the selected lumbar vertebra after implantation and resist rotation.

10. A system, the system comprising a first elongated implant structure having a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional profile transverse to the longitudinal axis that is defined by at least one apex, the cross-sectional profile extending from a proximal portion of the first elongated implant structure to a distal portion of the first elongated implant structure, wherein the first elongated implant structure comprises an exterior surface region treated to provide bony in-growth or through-growth, the first elongated implant structure configured to be inserted through a first insertion path that enters on an first anterolateral region of the selected lumbar vertebra, passes caudally through the intervertebral disc, and into an first opposite anterolateral region of the adjacent lumbar vertebra, wherein the first anterolateral region and the first opposite anterolateral region are on opposite lateral sides of the spine; and at least a second elongated implant structure having a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional profile transverse to the longitudinal axis that is defined by at least one apex, wherein the second elongated implant structure comprises an exterior surface region treated to provide bony in-growth or through-growth, the second elongated implant structure configured to be inserted through a second anterolateral region of the selected lumbar vertebra, passing caudally through the intervertebral disc and into a second opposite anterolateral region of the adjacent lumbar vertebra, wherein the second anterolateral region and the second opposite anterolateral region are on opposite lateral sides of the spine, wherein the first anterolateral region and the second anterolateral region are on opposite lateral sides of the spine, wherein the first and second elongated implant structures are configured to cross each other in transit through the intervertebral disc when viewed anteriorly, affecting anterior lumbar interbody fusion.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein the bony in-growth region or through-growth region of both the first elongated implant structure and the second elongated implant structure comprises a porous plasma spray coating on the implant structure.