Importance

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Abstract

A spinal rod system and method for instrumenting the spine in the treatment of spinal abnormalities, in which a plurality of vertebra engaging means are provided for engagement on spaced vertebra, and the vertebra engaging means are secured on at least one elongate rod in axially spaced relationship, to impose opposed axial forces on the spine. In a preferred arrangement, two rods are used, and cross bars extend laterally between the rods to form a quadrilateral construct. The vertebra engaging means may comprise hooks, screws, or a combination of hooks and bone screws. Couplers are used to secure the screws and the transverse cross bars to the rods. The couplers and hooks all have similarly shaped and sized bodies with slotted backs opening in a posterior direction, whereby they may be interchanged in various positions relative to one another on the rods for optimum vertebral engagement, and the hooks may be first applied to the vertebra and the rods then pivoted into place for laying the rods into the slotted backs of the bodies to secure the components in place. The screw has a T-shaped head pivotally received in a coupler whereby two screws may be inserted into the pedicle of a vetebra in converging directions to obtain a mechanical lock on the vertebra.

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First Claim