Method of performing a transforaminal posterior lumbar interbody fusion procedure

A method for implanting an intervertebral implant into a disc space of a patient comprising:

• distracting a pair of adjacent vertebra using at least one instrument selected from the group consisting of a lamina spreader and a lateral distractor;
• removing an inferior facet of a cranial vertebrae and a superior facet of a caudal vertebrae using an osteotome to create a transforaminal window from the posterior side of the spine;
• removing substantially all of the disc material between the adjacent vertebra using a curette;
• removing the superficial layers of the vertebra endplates using a bone rasp to expose bleeding bone;
• inserting a trial-fit spacer until a desired implant thickness is determined;
• and
• inserting an implant into the intravertebral disc space via the transforaminal window using an insertion tool.

A method for implanting an intervertebral implant into a disc space of a patient around the patient's dura comprising:

• creating a transforaminal window from a posterior side of the spine;
• inserting bone graft material into the disc space;
• providing an implant having a body with curved, substantially parallel posterior and anterior faces separated by two narrow implant ends, superior and inferior faces having a plurality of projections for contacting upper and lower vertebral endplates;
• inserting the implant into the affected disc space via the transforaminal window with an insertion tool;
• guiding the implant around the dura through the transforaminal window using the insertion tool.