Instrumentation and method for performing image-guided spinal surgery using an anterior surgical approach

A method for performing image-guided spinal surgery on a patient, comprising:

• providing a surgical navigation reference device and a spinal implant;
• mounting the reference device to bone at a location remote from the patient's spinal column and in a substantially fixed position relative thereto;
• accessing a portion of the spinal column from an anterior direction;
• and
• performing an image-guided surgical procedure on the spinal column using an anterior surgical approach, including removing a portion of a natural intervertebral disc to form an intervertebral opening and inserting the spinal implant into the intervertebral opening.

A method for performing image-guided spinal surgery on a patient, comprising:

• providing a surgical navigation reference device, a bone anchor, and a spinal implant;
• anchoring the bone anchor to an anterior portion of the iliac region of the patient's pelvic bone;
• coupling the reference device to the bone anchor to mount the reference device in a substantially fixed position relative to the spinal column;
• forming a surgical incision adjacent the lumbar region of the spinal column from an anterior direction;
• and
• performing an image-guided surgical procedure on the lumbar region of the spinal column through the surgical incision using an anterior surgical approach, the image-guided surgical procedure including removing a portion of a natural intervertebral disc to form an intervertebral opening and inserting the spinal implant into the intervertebral opening.