Images used with permission from Medtronic
Figure 21.2
These drawings demonstrate how the disc is incised and removed by instru-
ments to clear the disc space between the vertebrae. This is the space that is
filled by a spacer and bone chips to allow the two vertebrae to grow togeth-
er (fuse). Some of these spacers can be used on their own and others require
a posterior (from the back) fusion as well.
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