Systems and methods for expandable corpectomy spacer implantation

A system for use during a corpectomy procedure to replace all or a portion of a vertebral body, say system comprising:

• an implant assembly including:
• an outer ring;
• a threaded actuator disposed inside the outer ring and having a gear;
• a right hand end configured to engage the threaded actuator and configured to receive a first endplate;
• a left hand end configured to engage the threaded actuator and configured to receive a second endplate;
• and
• a locking mechanism disposed in the outer ring with a visible gage to indicate that the locking mechanism is in a locked position or in an unlocked position and configured to removably engage with the gear, wherein the locking mechanism is a single component that is configured to engage with the gear in the locked position and is configured to splay open and disengage with the gear in the unlocked position;
• and
• an insertion instrument configured to move the locking mechanism to the unlocked position and engage the gear to expand or contract the implant assembly.