Orthopaedic implants and protheses

Abstract

The present invention provides cervical implant ( 30 ) comprising an upper surface ( 38 ), a lower surface ( 40 ), a posterior portion ( 34 ) and an anterior portion ( 36 ) and including a perimeter ( 42 ) and one or more apertures ( 44,46 ) within said anterior portion for receiving securing means, said apertures having respective longitudinal axes M1, M2, characterised in that said axes extend in a direction substantially through said anterior portion ( 36 ) and converge at a point in a plane outside of said perimeter ( 42 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of repairing a spine damaged in its cervical region, the method comprising:
 preparing an insertion site in the cervical region;   providing a cervical implant comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, an anterior portion and a posterior portion and including a perimeter and one or more apertures within said anterior portion for receiving securing means, said apertures having respective longitudinal axes M1, M2, characterized in that said axes extend in a direction substantially through said anterior portion and converge at a point in a plane outside of said perimeter;   inserting the implant between superior and inferior cervical vertebral bodies; and   securing the implant to the superior and inferior cervical vertebral bodies by securing means passing through the apertures into the vertebral bodies.