Zero-profile interbody spacer and coupled plate assembly

An intervertebral implant system comprising:

• an intervertebral implant defining a trailing end and a leading end opposite the trailing end along an insertion direction into an intervertebral disc space defined between first and second vertebrae, the intervertebral implant further defining a top surface configured to contact the first vertebra, and a bottom surface opposite the top surface with respect to a second direction that is perpendicular to the insertion direction, the bottom surface configured to contact the second vertebra, wherein the intervertebral implant further defines first and second bone fixation holes offset from each other along a third direction that is perpendicular to each of the insertion direction and the second direction;
• an implant inserter instrument configured to removably attach to the implant at a contact region that includes all locations at which the implant inserter instrument contacts the implant when the implant inserter instrument is attached to the implant, wherein 1) an entirety of the contact region is positioned between the first bone fixation hole and the second bone fixation hole with respect to the third direction, and 2) the contact region and the first bone fixation hole are each positioned such that a straight line drawn in the third direction intersects both the contact region and the first bone fixation hole;
• and
• a stop configured to abut at least one of the first and second vertebrae so as to prevent further insertion of the implant into the intervertebral disc space in the insertion direction,
• wherein the first bone fixation hole is configured to receive a first bone fixation element when the implant inserter instrument is attached to the implant, and the second bone fixation hole is configured to receive a second bone fixation element when the implant inserter instrument is attached to the implant, and
• wherein the contact region defines a maximum width measured in the third direction, the implant defines a minimum width measured from the first bone fixation hole to the second bone fixation hole in the third direction, and the minimum width is less than the maximum width.