A support for vertebral fusion prevents subsidence and eliminates the need for posterior surgery and instrumentation. The support is constructed of an implantable man-made material. One embodiment is generally a U-shaped metal support that rests on the apophyseal ring of a patient's vertebrae, with the open portion of the U facing the patient's posterior. The metal support is connected to a previously placed threaded cage or bone dowel such as that used in anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF). The U-shaped support is preferably comprised of a trabecular metal such as tantalum.

 
Web www.patentalert.com

< Micro-porous mesh stent with hybrid structure

< Biomaterial for artificial cartilage

> Intervertebral nucleus prosthesis and surgical procedure for implanting the same

> Spinal disc annulus reconstruction method and deformable spinal disc annulus stent

~ 00279