Instrumentation and methods for use in implanting a cervical disc replacement device

A drill guide, comprising:

• a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
• and
• a guide member disposed at the distal end of the shaft and including at least one guide bore, the guide member being operable to engage an insertion plate that maintains first and second members of an intervertebral disc replacement device in registration with one another for insertion into an intervertebral disc space of a spinal column, wherein:
• the guide member is operable to achieve at least first and second alignment modes with respect to the insertion plate,
• in the first alignment mode, the guide member is operable to engage the insertion plate such that the at least one guide bore aligns with an area of a first vertebral bone of the intervertebral disc space to which one of the first and second members of the intervertebral disc replacement device is to be attached, and
• in the second alignment mode, the guide member is operable to engage the insertion plate such that the at least one guide bore aligns with an area of a second vertebral bone of the intervertebral disc space to which the other of the and second members of the intervertebral disc replacement device is to be attached.

A method for replacing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc in a spinal column, comprising the steps of:

• removing the portion of the intervertebral disc from the spinal column;
• and
• inserting first and second members of an intervertebral disc replacement device into an intervertebral disc space of the spinal column, the first and second members being detachably engaged with an insertion plate operable to substantially maintain the first and second members in registration with one another;
• attaching a drill guide to the insertion plate, the drill guide including a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and a guide member disposed at the distal end of the shaft that is operable to engage the insertion plate;
• inserting a drill bit through at least one guide bore of the guide member to align the drill bit with an area of a vertebral bone of the intervertebral disc space to which one of the first and second members of the intervertebral disc replacement device is to be attached;
• and
• drilling the vertebral bone.