<PAGE>   1





                                                                    EXHIBIT 25.1



                       POWERS OF ATTORNEY FROM DIRECTORS
                           OF THE COMPANY AUTHORIZING
                            SIGNATURE OF THIS REPORT






<PAGE>   2




                                                                    EXHIBIT 25.1
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT that the undersigned Director of Sofamor
Danek Group, Inc., an Indiana corporation, hereby constitutes and appoints J.
Mark Merrill, Laurence Y. Fairey and Richard E. Duerr, Jr., and each of them,
his true and lawful agents and attorneys-in-fact, for him and in his name, place
and stead in any and all capacities, to sign for the undersigned the Annual
Report of the company on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., and
any and all amendments thereto; hereby ratifying and confirming all acts taken
by such agents and attorneys-in-fact, or in any one or more of them, as herein
authorized.

         WITNESS MY SIGNATURE, this 28 th day of February, 1997.



                                        /s/ Yves Paul Cotrel, M.D.
                                        --------------------------
                                        Yves Paul Cotrel, M.D.






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                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT that the undersigned Director of Sofamor
Danek Group, Inc., an Indiana corporation, hereby constitutes and appoints J.
Mark Merrill, Laurence Y. Fairey and Richard E. Duerr, Jr., and each of them,
his true and lawful agents and attorneys-in-fact, for him and in his name, place
and stead in any and all capacities, to sign for the undersigned the Annual
Report of the company on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., and
any and all amendments thereto; hereby ratifying and confirming all acts taken
by such agents and attorneys-in-fact, or in any one or more of them, as herein
authorized.

         WITNESS MY SIGNATURE, this 25 th day of February, 1997.



                                        /s/ Samuel F. Hulbert 
                                        -------------------------------
                                        Samuel F. Hulbert, Ph.D.






<PAGE>   4




                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT that the undersigned Director of Sofamor
Danek Group, Inc., an Indiana corporation, hereby constitutes and appoints J.
Mark Merrill, Laurence Y. Fairey and Richard E. Duerr, Jr., and each of them,
his true and lawful agents and attorneys-in-fact, for him and in his name, place
and stead in any and all capacities, to sign for the undersigned the Annual
Report of the company on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., and
any and all amendments thereto; hereby ratifying and confirming all acts taken
by such agents and attorneys-in-fact, or in any one or more of them, as herein
authorized.

         WITNESS MY SIGNATURE, this 28 th day of February, 1997.



                                        /s/ Marie-Helene Plais 
                                        ------------------------ 
                                        Marie-Helene Plais, M.D.






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                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT that the undersigned Director of Sofamor
Danek Group, Inc., an Indiana corporation, hereby constitutes and appoints J.
Mark Merrill, Laurence Y. Fairey and Richard E. Duerr, Jr., and each of them,
his true and lawful agents and attorneys-in-fact, for him and in his name, place
and stead in any and all capacities, to sign for the undersigned the Annual
Report of the company on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., and
any and all amendments thereto; hereby ratifying and confirming all acts taken
by such agents and attorneys-in-fact, or in any one or more of them, as herein
authorized.

         WITNESS MY SIGNATURE, this 21 st day of February, 1997.



                                        /s/ George F. Rapp, M.D. 
                                        ------------------------ 
                                        George F. Rapp, M.D.






<PAGE>   6




                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT that the undersigned Director of Sofamor
Danek Group, Inc., an Indiana corporation, hereby constitutes and appoints J.
Mark Merrill, Laurence Y. Fairey and Richard E. Duerr, Jr., and each of them,
his true and lawful agents and attorneys-in-fact, for him and in his name, place
and stead in any and all capacities, to sign for the undersigned the Annual
Report of the company on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., and
any and all amendments thereto; hereby ratifying and confirming all acts taken
by such agents and attorneys-in-fact, or in any one or more of them, as herein
authorized.

         WITNESS MY SIGNATURE, this 25 th day of February, 1997.



                                        /s/  Robert A. Compton 
                                        ------------------------- 
                                        Robert A. Compton






<PAGE>   7




                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT that the undersigned Director of Sofamor
Danek Group, Inc., an Indiana corporation, hereby constitutes and appoints J.
Mark Merrill, Laurence Y. Fairey and Richard E. Duerr, Jr., and each of them,
his true and lawful agents and attorneys-in-fact, for him and in his name, place
and stead in any and all capacities, to sign for the undersigned the Annual
Report of the company on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., and
any and all amendments thereto; hereby ratifying and confirming all acts taken
by such agents and attorneys-in-fact, or in any one or more of them, as herein
authorized.

         WITNESS MY SIGNATURE, this 21 st day of February, 1997.



                                        /s/ L. D. Beard 
                                        ------------------------ 
                                        L. D. Beard






<PAGE>   8




                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENT that the undersigned Director of Sofamor
Danek Group, Inc., an Indiana corporation, hereby constitutes and appoints J.
Mark Merrill, Laurence Y. Fairey and Richard E. Duerr, Jr., and each of them,
his true and lawful agents and attorneys-in-fact, for him and in his name, place
and stead in any and all capacities, to sign for the undersigned the Annual
Report of the company on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., and
any and all amendments thereto; hereby ratifying and confirming all acts taken
by such agents and attorneys-in-fact, or in any one or more of them, as herein
authorized.

         WITNESS MY SIGNATURE, this 21 st day of February, 1997.



                                        /s/ George W. Bryan, Sr.  
                                        ------------------------  
                                        George W. Bryan, Sr.