Vertebral prosthesis for the substitution of a vertebra in malignant tumour surgery

Claim 1

- A process for the substitution of a prosthesis for a vertebra in malignant tumour surgery and a prosthesis for the practice of said process, characterized essentially in that it comprises a first step in which the tumour-affected vertebra is removed so that once the cavity for receiving the prosthesis has been prepared, the latter is inserted in the closed position with a minimum height thereof, it being held in the operative position with the aid of appropriate clips; thereafter the prosthesis is opened up with aid of an appropriate spanner allowing a centre component of said prosthesis to be rotated, which rotation causes the outward movement relative to the said component of further axially movable components capable of moving in opposite directions until the necessary height is obtained for the said moving components to bite above and below into the body of the neighbouring vertebra; to be followed thereafter by locking of the moving components relative to the centre component of the prosthesis to prevent further movement; and in that in a final step there is added a plate contributing to stabilize the system to prevent anteropos- terior translation movements, lateral rotations and twisting, which plate is screwed laterally into the vertebra above and below and into the centre component of the prosthesis.