| abstract |
Apparatus for a partial or complete discectomy of an intervertebral spinal disc accessed by one or more trans-sacral axial spinal instrumentation/fusion (TASIF) axial bore (22, 152) formed through vertebral bodies in general alignment with a visualized, trans-sacral anterior or posterior axial instrumentation/fusion line (AAIFL or PAIFL) line. A discectomy instrument (130) is introduced through the axial bore, the axial disc opening, and into the nucleus to locate the instrument cutting head (134) within the nucleus of the disc. The cutting head is operated by operating means (140) coupled to the instrument body proximal end for extending the cutting head laterally away from the disc opening. A discectomy sheath (180) is first introduced to extend from the skin incision through the axial bore and into the axial disc opening, the sheath having a lumen for introducing discectomy instruments therethrough and for irrigation and aspiration of the disc cavity. |