Importance

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Abstract

A vertebral body prosthesis is disclosed which is easily implantable intermediate the endplates of upper and lower vertebrae to replace the removed vertebral body and restore stability and normal vertebrae spacing to the spinal column while facilitating the occurrence of bony integration to fuse the aforesaid vertebrae together. A first embodiment, which may be used in the cervical spine and installed from an anterior surgical approach, is a vertebral body T-cage, which is fixed in height, and is for installation intermediate the endplates of two vertebrae located immediately above and below a removed vertebra. A second embodiment, which may be installed using a posterior surgical approach, is a fixed height vertebral body prosthesis for installation intermediate the endplates of vertebrae located immediately above and below a removed vertebra, with the device being affixed using curved mounting plates located on either the left or the right lateral side of the vertebrae. A third embodiment is a variable height vertebral body prosthesis similar to the fixed height vertebral body prosthesis, but which may be adjusted in height once it is installed in place to adjust the spacing between the vertebrae.

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First Claim