Stackable cage system for corpectomy/vertebrectomy

A prosthetic device for vertebral fusion, comprising:

• a plurality of inert bodies conforming in shape and size with hard end plates of vertebrae on which the prosthetic device is to be seated,
• each of said bodies having ridged top and bottom faces adapted to selectively interdigitate with faces of adjacent bodies to form a stack and to bite into adjoining vertebrae, the ridged top and bottom faces having anterior/posterior and medial/lateral ridges to provide stability in the medial/lateral and anterior/posterior directions respectively,
• side walls disposed between the ridged top and bottom faces to define an aperture which opens through the faces, and
• a fastener opening extending from the top face to the bottom face and extending through each body generally in the same direction as the vertebral column but recessed from the top and bottom faces, the fastener opening positioned to receive a fastener therein, and the fastener is sized to secure the stack of bodies without protruding from the stack.

A method of vertebral fusion comprising the steps of

• providing a plurality of inert bodies shaped to fit opposed end faces of vertebrae in a vertebral column, each of the bodies having ridged top and bottom faces adapted to selectively interdigitate with faces of adjacent bodies to form a stack and to bite into adjoining vertebrae, the ridged top and bottom faces having anterior/posterior and medial/lateral ridges to provide stability in the medial/lateral and anterior/posterior directions respectively, each of the bodies also having side walls disposed between the ridged top and bottom faces to define an aperture which opens through the faces, and each of the bodies having a fastener opening extending through each body from the top face to the bottom face and extending generally in the same direction as the vertebral column,
• selecting the appropriate combination of bodies for fusion within the vertebral column,
• stacking the appropriate combination of bodies by allowing the ridged top and bottom faces of adjacent bodies to interdigitate,
• providing a fastener,
• fastening the stacked bodies by extending the fastener through the fastener opening in each of the bodies to form a rigid prosthetic device,
• preparing the vertebral column to receive the rigid prosthetic device, and inserting the rigid prosthetic device into the vertebral column.

A method of vertebral fusion comprising the steps of

• providing a plurality of inert bodies shaped to fit opposed end faces of vertebrae in a vertebral column, each of the bodies having ridged top and bottom faces adapted to bite into adjoining vertebrae, the ridged top and bottom faces having anterior/posterior and medial/lateral ridges to provide stability in the medial/lateral and anterior/posterior directions respectively, each of the bodies also having side walls disposed between the ridged top and bottom faces to define an aperture which opens through the faces, and a plurality of openings disposed within the side walls,
• preparing a stack of at least one of the bodies,
• preparing the vertebral column to receive the stack,
• inserting the stack into the vertebral column,
• providing an additional spine stabilization device, and
• attaching the additional spine stabilization device to one of the openings disposed within the side walls.

A prosthetic device to integrate with and support vertebrae in a vertebral column, comprising:

• a plurality of inert bodies conforming in shape and size with hard end plates of vertebrae on which the prosthetic device is to be seated,
• each of the bodies having ridged top and bottom faces adapted to selectively interdigitate with faces of adjacent bodies and to bite into adjoining vertebrae, the ridged top and bottom faces having anterior/posterior and medial/lateral ridges to provide stability in the medial/lateral and anterior/posterior directions respectively,
• each of the top and bottom faces having recesses therein, and each of the bodies having a fastener opening extending generally in the same direction as the vertebral column from the recess in the top face to the recess in the bottom face, the fastener opening positioned to receive a locking screw to secure a stack of the bodies, the locking screw sized such that it does not protrude beyond the stack of bodies,
• each of the bodies also having side walls disposed between the ridged top and bottom faces to define an aperture which opens through the faces, and a plurality of threaded openings disposed within the side walls, said plurality of threaded openings positioned and designed to receive threaded components of additional spine stabilization devices.