Systems and methods for spinal fixation

A method for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae of a spine, comprising:

• providing a positioning apparatus including two guide sleeves, each guide sleeve having a long axis;
• locating the two guide sleeves with respect to the adjacent vertebrae such that a vertex formed by the long axis of each guide sleeve is located in the intervertebral space for the adjacent vertebrae;
• forming an aperture in each of the adjacent vertebrae using the guide sleeves;
• and
• inserting an implant into the apertures formed in each of the adjacent vertebrae so that the implant extends between the adjacent vertebrae and through the intervertebral space.

A spinal fixation kit comprising a positioning apparatus including:

• two guide sleeves, each guide sleeve having a long axis,
• a cross member,
• an intravertebral spacer,
• wherein the guide sleeves are pivotably mounted to the cross member, and
• wherein the intravertebral spacer is spaced from the cross member and interconnected thereto so as to be between pivots points for the guide sleeves;
• and
• a fixation member.

A method for fixing two adjacent vertebrae to facilitate a bony union thereof, comprising:

• performing a diskectomy of an intervertebral space;
• transecting a segment of bone from a surface of a vetrebra bordering the intervertebral space;
• freeing the segment of bone from the surface of the vertebra from a horizontal to a vertical plane;
• securing the segment of bone in the vertical plane to span the intervertebral space, thereby fixing two adjacent vertebrae to facilitate a bony union thereof.

A method for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae of a spine, comprising:

• providing a positioning apparatus including a pivot arm that is rotatable about a pivot point;
• locating the positioning apparatus with respect to the adjacent vertebrae such that the pivot point is disposed between the adjacent vertebrae;
• forming an aperture in each of the adjacent vertebrae;
• and inserting an implant into the apertures formed in each of the adjacent vertebrae so that the implant extends between the adjacent vertebrae and through the intervertebral space.