Methods and instruments for interbody surgical techniques

An instrument for spinal surgery, comprising:

• a distractor insertable into the disc space, the distractor including:
• a body portion extending between a leading end and a trailing end;
• at least one flange extending from the leading end towards the trailing end of the body portion, the at least one flange forming a slot along the body portion that opens toward the leading end and is closed at the trailing end, wherein the body portion and the at least one flange taper in height toward the leading end of the body portion of the distractor;
• an elongated shaft extending from the trailing end of the body portion in a direction away from the leading end of the body portion;
• and a cutter including an elongated shaft and a cutting head at a distal end of the elongated shaft, wherein the cutting head includes an upper member with an upper distal cutting edge at a distal end thereof and a lower member with a lower distal cutting edge at a distal end thereof, the shaft further including opposite sidewalls extending between the upper and lower members with the sidewalls and the upper and lower members defining an interior channel opening distally between the upper and lower distal cutting edges, wherein the channel is sized to receive the elongated shaft and the body portion of the distractor, the body portion of the distractor providing a slip fit with the cutting head to guide the upper and lower cutting edges along the body portion from the trailing end to a location spaced distally of the leading end with at least one of the opposite sidewalls positioned between the body portion and the least one flange.

An instrument for spinal surgery, comprising:

• a distractor insertable into the disc space, the distractor including:
• a body portion extending between a leading end and a trailing end;
• an upper surface positionable adjacent an endplate of an upper vertebra;
• an opposite lower surface positionable adjacent an endplate of a lower vertebra;
• a cavity extending between and opening at each of the upper and lower surfaces of the body portion;
• at least one flange extending from the leading end towards the trailing end of the body portion, the at least one flange forming a slot along the body portion, wherein the body portion and the at least one flange each include a height between the upper and lower surfaces that tapers toward the leading end;
• and an elongated shaft extending from the trailing end in a direction away from the leading end;
• and a cutter including an elongated shaft and a cutting head at a distal end of the elongated shaft, wherein the cutting head includes an upper member with an upper distal cutting edge at a distal end thereof and a lower member with a lower distal cutting edge at a distal end thereof, the shaft further including opposite sidewalls extending between the upper and lower members with the sidewalls and the upper and lower members defining an interior channel opening distally between the upper and lower distal cutting edges, wherein the channel is sized to receive the elongated shaft and the body portion of the distractor, the body portion of the distractor providing a slip fit with the cutting head to guide the upper and lower cutting edges along the body portion from the leading end toward the trailing end with at least one of the opposite sidewalls positioned between the body portion and the least one flange, wherein the cutting head includes an opening in each of the upper and lower members that are alignable with the openings of the cavity of the body portion of the distractor at the upper and lower surfaces of the body portion of the distractor.