Methods and apparatus for forming one or more trans-sacral axial
instrumentation/fusion (TASIF) axial bore through vertebral bodies in
general alignment with a visualized, anterior or posterior axial
instrumentation/fusion line (AAIFL or PAIFL) in a minimally invasive, low
trauma, manner and providing a therapy to the spine employing the axial
bore. Anterior or posterior starting positions aligned with the AAIFL or
PAIFL are accessed through respective anterior and posterior tracts.
Curved or relatively straight anterior and curved posterior TASIF axial
bores are formed from the anterior and posterior starting positions. The
therapies performed through the TASIF axial bores include discoscopy,
full and partial discectomy, vertebroplasty, balloon-assisted
vertebroplasty, drug delivery, electrical stimulation and various forms
of spinal disc cavity augmentation, spinal disc replacement, fusion of
spinal motion segments and implantation of radioactive seeds. Axial
spinal implants and bone growth materials can be placed into single or
multiple parallel or diverging TASIF axial bores to fuse two or more
vertebrae, or distract or shock absorb two or more vertebrae.