Surgical method for restoring spinal alignment and/or range of motion

Abstract

Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for restoring spinal alignment and/or maximizing range of motion for patients who suffer from spinal degenerative disorders.

1 . A method of restoring spinal alignment and range of motion comprises the steps of:
 completing a preoperative imaging protocol to acquire at least one image using one or more imaging techniques to create one or more preoperative measurements;   selecting a surgical approach;   positioning the patient properly;   completing an operative imaging protocol to acquire at least one image using one or more imaging techniques to create one or more operative measurements and confirming the one or more operative measurements relative to the one or more preoperative measurements;   accessing at least one localized spine segment in a spine region;   selecting a spinal implant size on at least one side;   preparing a caudal vertebral body on the at least one side;   preparing a cranial vertebral body on the at least one side;   completing at least one caudal keel channel on the caudal vertebral body on the at least one side;   completing at least one cranial keel channel on the cranial vertebral body and verifying alignment on the at least one side; and   implanting the at least one selected spinal implant into the at least one side.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of preparing the caudal vertebral body on the at least one side comprises the step of preparing a portion of an endplate and a portion of a pedicle on the at least one side of the caudal vertebral body to create a caudal resected surface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the resected surface comprises a path trajectory, the path trajectory follows along, matches or substantially matches the transverse pedicle angle. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the resected surface comprises a sagittal angle, the angle matches or substantially matches the angle of correction from the one or more preoperative measurements. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the resected surface comprises a path trajectory and a sagittal angle, the path trajectory follows along, matches or substantially matches the transverse pedicle angle and the sagittal angle matches or substantially matches the angle of correction from the one or more preoperative measurements. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of preparing the cranial vertebral body on the at least one side comprises the step of preparing a portion of an endplate on the at least one side of the cranial vertebral body to create a cranial resected or cranial prepared surface. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of preparing the cranial vertebral body on the at least one side further comprises the step of confirming alignment of the cranial resected or prepared surface relative to the caudal resected surface on the at least one side. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of confirming the alignment comprises confirming parallel or substantially parallel alignment of the cranial prepared or resected surface relative to the caudal resected surface. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of completing at least one caudal keel channel on the caudal vertebral body on the at least one side comprises the step of creating at least one caudal keel channel extending below the caudal resected surface on the at least one side, the at least one caudal keel channel including a caudal vertical axis. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of completing at least one cranial keel channel on the cranial vertebral body on the at least one side comprise the step of creating at least one cranial keel channel above the cranial resected or prepared surface of the cranial vertebral body that aligns with the at least one caudal keel channel, the at least one cranial keel channel including a cranial vertical axis. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the alignment comprises the caudal vertical axis of the at least one caudal keel channel and the cranial vertical axis of the at least one cranial keel channel is aligned co-linearly. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the preoperative imaging protocol comprises one or more static and dynamic patient positions. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more preoperative measurements comprises an angle of correction and/or center of rotation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the angle of correction comprises a sagittal angle and/or a coronal angle. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more imaging techniques comprises a radiograph, an MRI, a CT scan, an ultrasound and/or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surgical approach comprises a TLIF and/or a PLIF. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more operative measurements comprise the same measurements as the one or more preoperative measurements. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the confirmation comprises matching or substantially matching the one or more operative measurements relative to the one or more preoperative measurements. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting a spinal implant size comprises the steps of:
 completing soft tissue balancing on at least one side;   determining spinal implant length on the at least one side; and determining the proper spinal implant height on the at least one side.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting a spinal implant size comprises the steps determining spinal implant length on the at least one side; and determining the spinal implant height on the at least one side.