A method of removing an intervertebral disc prosthesis from an intervertebral disc space includes the steps of: a) providing a surgical extractor with two legs b) individually inserting the legs, while the legs are completely detached from each other, into the intervertebral disc space c) rotating the legs so that they take up a locking position in which a pulling force can be applied by the legs to the intervertebral disc prosthesis d) connecting the legs to an extraction element and e) pulling at the extraction element so that the legs apply a pulling force to the intervertebral disc prosthesis.
