Abstract: A surgical implant for connecting two flexible ligaments to vertebrae having an intervertebral stabilizer including an intra-osseous rod having a first end for implanting into a vertebrae. The intervertebral stabilizer also includes an extra-osseous head extending outwardly of the vertebrae. The extra-osseous head has two stepped portions, each with a peripheral surface, defining two ligament retaining zones. Each of the two ligament retaining zones has a shoulder, forming an axial ligament abutment on the sides of the ligament retaining zones closest to the first end. The extra-osseous head retains two flexible ligaments spaced from the vertebrae and each other by the shoulders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inter-vertebral stabilizer having one or more flexible ligaments. Each flexible ligament can be engaged with two respective vertebrae and/or associated with two retaining elements, such as screws, each of which is suitable for being implanted in a respective vertebra. The present invention also relates to a process, and the associated apparatus, for determining or verifying the tension of such an inter-vertebral stabilizer before it is put into place on the spinal column. This process includes implanting, in each of the vertebrae concerned, a corresponding rigid rod extending outside the patient's body. The rods in each pair of adjacent rods are immobilized in an initial position. If the pain which is to be removed by the stabilizer persists, the process includes modifying the distance between the rods, then in immobilizing the rods in their new relative positions and in repeating the pain test. This cycle of operations is repeated, if necessary, until the pain disappears.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surgical implant designed to prevent mutual contact between vertebrae during flexions of the vertebral column, an implant which consists of an insert (1) shaped and dimensioned so that it can be inserted, in its longitudinal direction, between the vertebral spines (A) of at least two successive vertebrae (V), the said insert comprising or being associated with retaining means (L) designed to hold it in place on the vertebrae, at the same time permitting the mutual separation of the latter.Advantageously, the insert (1) has longitudinal grooves (2, 3) dimensioned to receive, with a certain amount of play, a corresponding vertebral spine (A), and the retaining means are constituted by a ligament (L) passing through transverse pierced holes, preferably two inclined, cross pierces holes (8), in the insert, and interlacing around the vertebral spines (A).Utilization to remove painful complaints of the spinal nerves, in particular sciatica.