Abstract: A balloon for use in compressing cancellous bone and marrow (also known as medullary bone or trabecular bone) against the inner cortex of bones whether the bones are fractured or not. The balloon comprises an inflatable, non-expandable balloon body for insertion into said bone. The body has a shape and size to compress at least a portion of the cancellous bone to form a cavity in the cancellous bone and to restore the original position of the outer cortical bone, if fractured or collapsed. The balloon is prevented from applying excessive pressure to the outer cortical bone. The wall or walls of the balloon are such that proper inflation the balloon body is achieved to provide for optimum compression of all the bone marrow. The balloon is able to be folded so that it can be inserted quickly into a bone. The balloon can be made to have a suction catheter. The main purpose of the balloon is the forming or enlarging of a cavity or passage in a bone, especially in, but not limited to, vertebral bodies.

Abstract: A system and method for anterior fixation of the spine utilizes a cylindrical implant engaged in the intradiscal space at the cephalad and caudal ends of the construct. The implants are cylindrical fusion devices (10) filled with bone material to promote bone ingrowth and fusion of the disc space. An attachment member (40) is connected to each of the fusion devices (10) and a spinal rod (50) is connected to each of the attachment members using an eyebolt assembly (53, 54, 55). In a further inventive method, a revision of the construct is achieved by removing the fusion devices. Each fusion device is engaged by an elongated guide member (62) over which a cylindrical trephine (70) is advanced. The trephine (70) is used to extract a core (84) of bone material around the fusion implant, while the guide member (62) is used to remove the bone core (84) containing the fusion implant (10). In another aspect of the invention, a removal insert (90, 90') is provided that engages an implanted fusion device (10).