Introduction:

The intervertebral fusion cage is a large, hollow cylinder made of some type of metal, usually titanium. It is designed as a "cage" so that bone graft can be placed inside the hollow cylinder to allow a spinal fusion to occur between two vertebrae. The holes that are throughout the cage allow bone to form around and through the cage connecting the two vertebrae with solid bone.

Many of the newer types of intervertebral fusion cages are also designed to allow performing the spinal fusion either using an open incision or a laparoscopic procedure. The intervertebral fusion cage is designed to spread the two vertebrae apart, making more room for the nerves. This decreases the pinching and irritation on the nerves. The cage sits between the two vertebrae to replace the disc and hold the two vertebrae in the correct position until a fusion occurs.