Fusion system and method for fusing spinal bones

A surgical implant, comprising:

• a housing;
• a recess in said housing for receiving bone graft material;
• said housing having an opening in a side thereof, said opening communicating with said recess and being configured for insertion of the bone graft material into said recess;
• a cover mechanically engaging said housing so as to permit sliding relative movement therebetween, said cover being configured to retain the bone graft material within said recess.

A surgical implant for use with human vertebrae, comprising:

• a generally u-shaped housing defining an opening in an anterior side thereof;
• a recess in said housing communicating with said opening, said recess being configured for receiving bone graft material;
• and
• a cover in locating and mating engagement with said housing so as to permit sliding relative movement therebetween, said cover being securable to at least one of the adjacent vertebrae and configured to block egress of the bone graft material from said recess.

A surgical implant for use with human vertebrae, comprising:

• a generally u-shaped housing having a plurality of closed sides and an open side defining an opening at an anterior of said housing, said housing being disposable between adjacent vertebrae;
• a recess in said housing communicating with said opening, said recess extending through superior and inferior portions of said housing and being configured for receiving bone graft material therein;
• a cover mechanically coupled with said housing so as to permit sliding relative movement therebetween, said cover being disposed over said opening and configured to block egress of the bone graft material from said recess with said cover being securable to at least one of the adjacent vertebrae;
• and
• screw-receiving apertures in said cover for accommodating screws securing said cover to the at least one adjacent vertebrae.