Systems and methods for manipulating and/or installing a pedicle screw
View Patent ↗A spinal screw assembly adapted to be secured to a vertebrae for providing securement across at least two vertebrae. The assembly includes a pedicle screw having a substantially spherical head portion, a threaded shaft portion, and an engagement surface in the head portion for driving said screw into the vertebrae, and a body member comprising a tower portion having an open top, a break-away section for manipulation of the screw upon implantation into the vertebrae, a base body at a proximal region of the body member and a break zone which acts as a transition between the base body and the tower portion. A resealably securable setscrew within the body member secures and fully contains the rod within said assembly. The break-away section remains completely outside a wound and is removed or broken off once the screw has been fully assembled inside the vertebrae.
1. A method for compressing at least two vertebrae together, comprising:
securing a first spinal screw assembly to a first vertebrae;
securing a second spinal screw assembly to a second vertebrae;
receiving a portion of a fixation rod in each spinal screw assembly, wherein a first end of the fixation rod includes a first flared portion for positioning adjacent the first spinal screw assembly and wherein a second end of the fixation rod includes a second flared portion that is positioned adjacent the second spinal screw assembly;
coupling a first end of a compressor tool to the second screw assembly;
engaging a second end of the compressor tool with the second flared portion; and
pulling the second flared portion of the fixation rod, wherein the second flared portion of the fixation rod moves relative to the second screw assembly moving in a direction away from both the first and second screw assemblies, and wherein a distance between the first screw assembly and the second screw assembly is decreased.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning a bushing within a base of a body member, the bushing defining a seat for a portion of the fixation rod.
3. A method comprising:
attaching a first screw to a first vertebra;
coupling a first rod receiving member to the first screw;
inserting a first end of a spinal rod through a first pair of slots in the first rod receiving member, wherein the first end terminates in a first coupling feature that includes at least one of a clip, a snap ring, and a washer adjacent the first rod receiving member;
attaching a second end of the spinal rod to a second vertebra;
attaching a first end of a compressor tool to the first rod receiving member;
coupling a second end of the compressor tool to the first coupling feature; and
pulling the spinal rod through the first pair of slots using the second end of the compressor tool.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of attaching the second end of the spinal rod to a second vertebra comprises:
attaching a second screw to the second vertebra;
coupling a second rod receiving member to the second screw; and
inserting the second end of the spinal rod through a second pair of slots in the second rod receiving member, wherein the second end terminates in a second coupling feature adjacent the second rod receiving member.
5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising pulling the first end of the spinal rod through the first pair of slots to position the second vertebra relative to the first vertebra.