Methods and instruments for treating pseudoarthrosis

A method of treating spinal pseudoarthrosis in a patient, comprising:

• advancing a first elongated member having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough to a location of spinal pseudoarthrosis in the patient;
• and
• advancing an injectible osteoinductive composition through said lumen of said first elongated member to said location, said osteoinductive composition comprising an osteoinductive factor in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

A method of treating spinal pseudoarthrosis in a patient, comprising:

• advancing an elongated member -into a pseudoarthrotic mass in said patient, said elongated member having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, said distal end of said member having at least one bone cutting edge;
• and
• advancing an osteoinductive composition through said lumen of said elongated member to said pseudoarthritic mass, said osteoinductive composition extending across said pseudoarthrotic mass, said osteoinductive composition comprising an osteoinductive factor in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and effective in promoting bone growth for treating said spinal pseudoarthrosis.

A cannulated drill, comprising an elongated member formed of a biocompatible material and having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner surface, and an outer surface, said inner surface defining a lumen, said lumen extending along the length of said elongated member and sized to receive an elongated obturator, said distal end of said elongated member having at least one bone cutting edge, said proximal end of said elongated member having a connector configured for matingly engaging a distal end of a syringe to said proximal end of said elongated member.

A surgical instrument assembly, comprising:

• a cannulated drill, said drill comprising an elongated member formed of a biocompatible material and having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner surface, and an outer surface, said inner surface defining a lumen, said lumen extending along the length of said elongated member, said distal end having at least one bone cutting edge, said proximal end having a connector for matingly engaging a distal end of a syringe to said proximal end of said elongated member;
• and
• a syringe, said syringe having a housing defining a cavity, said housing having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end of said syringe matingly engageable to said proximal end of said elongated member, said lumen of said elongated member and said cavity of said housing in fluid communication when said distal end of said syringe is matingly engaged to said proximal end of said elongated member.