This invention relates to arthodesis for stabilizing the spine. More
specifically, the present invention is directed to an intervertebral
spacer formed of a bone material and to methods of treating patients
having spinal deformities. The invention provides a spinal implant
assembly comprising bone-derived components. The bone-derived components
can be formed into modular units that can be assembled to provide a wide
variety of implant configurations. In addition, the bone-derived
components can form scaffold that can withstand the shear and impact
forces necessary to insert the assembled implant into a disc space
between adjacent vertebrae. In preferred forms the implants define an
open spacer that serves as a depot for receipt of an osteoconductive
material. The ostoegenic material is preferably a moldable filler that
can form a molded reinforced implant.