Modified anterior or posterior fusion plates and interbody fusion devices have been developed that contain slots to allow the use of pins to position and to guide the placement of the plate while the screws are being secured, reducing the likelihood of improper placement and localization of the plate and screws. This reduces the amount of time required for the operative procedure, and prevents inadvertent introduction of the screws for the plate into the former pin holes. This system allows the surgeon to carefully identify the geometry of the vertebral bodies at the outset of the case, when there is no significant bleeding, and when the field is clearly visualized, to determine the placement of the distracting pins. Then, the careful placement of the distracting pins serves as the guide and basis for placement of the plate and screws.
