Spinal stabilization systems and methods of use

1. A method for the fusion of a first vertebral bone and a second vertebral bone of a subject, comprising:

coupling a first segment of a first distraction member to a spinous process of the first vertebral bone, wherein the first distraction member has a second segment that couples to a distraction device and wherein the distraction device is adapted to deliver a distractive force through the first distraction members to the first vertebral bone;

coupling a first segment of a second distraction member to the second vertebral bone, wherein the second distraction member has a second segment that couples to the distraction device and wherein the distraction device is adapted to deliver a distractive force through the second distraction members to the second vertebral bone;

actuating the distraction device and distracting the spinous processes of the first and second vertebral bones away from one another to a distracted position;

decompressing spinal nerves while the spinous process of the first vertebral bone is coupled to the distraction device and while the first and second vertebral bones are in the distracted position, wherein decompression of the spinal nerves is performed by removing bone and ligament structures that compress the spinal nerves from at least a portion of the lamina of the first vertebral bone or the second vertebral bone;

using a bone graft or bone graft substitute to span a distance from the lamina of the first vertebral bone to the lamina of the second vertebral bone, wherein the bone graft or bone graft substitute is configured to form a bony fusion between the first and second vertebral bones;

implanting an orthopedic device to affix the first and second vertebral bones, wherein the orthopedic device contains at least first and second opposed surfaces, wherein at least one of the opposed surfaces contains at least one protrusion that is adapted to penetrate a side surface of the spinous process of the first or second vertebral bone, wherein the orthopedic device also includes a locking member adapted to transition from a first state to a second state, wherein the opposed surfaces are movable relative to one another when the locking member is in the first state and immobilized relative to one another when the locking member is in the second state.

2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein implanting the orthopedic device comprises:

positioning the first opposed surface of the orthopedic device on a first side of the spinous process of the first or second vertebral bone;

positioning the second opposed surface of the orthopedic device on a side of the spinous process that is opposite to where the first opposed surface is positioned, wherein each of the first and second opposed surfaces is positioned on opposite sides of the same spinous process;

driving the first and second opposed surfaces of the orthopedic device towards one another and capturing the spinous process between the first and second opposed;

transitioning the locking member of the orthopedic device from the first state to the second state and immobilizing the first and second opposed surfaces relative to the spinous process.

3. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion from at least one opposed surface is forcibly driven into a side surface of the spinous process when the first and second opposed surfaces of the orthopedic device are driven towards one another.

4. A method as in claim 1 , wherein at least one distraction member contains an elongated bone screw having, at the first segment, a threaded shank that is adapted to threadably engage the spinous process.

5. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the distraction member contains a threaded shank that positioned into a spinous process along a posterior to anterior axis of the spinous process.

6. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the first segment of the first distraction member is positioned more proximal to the spinous process than the second segment of the distraction member when the first distraction member is coupled to the spinous process.

7. A method as in claim 1 , wherein at least one distraction member contains a clip member at its first segment, wherein the clip member abuts an outer surface of the spinous process.

8. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the implanted orthopedic device attaches to the spinous process of one of the first or second vertebral bones and to threaded fasteners anchored into the other of the first or second vertebral bones.

9. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the threaded fasteners are anchored into the pedicle portion of the other vertebral bone.

10. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the bone forming material is contained at the site of implantation within a bone graft containment device.

11. A method for the fusion of a first vertebral bone and a second vertebral bone of a subject, comprising:

coupling a first segment of a first distraction member to a lamina segment of the first vertebral bone, wherein the first distraction member has a second segment that couples to a distraction device, wherein the distraction device is adapted to deliver a distractive force through the first distraction member to the first;

coupling a first segment of a second distraction member to the second vertebral bone, wherein the second distraction member has a second segment that couples to the distraction device, wherein the distraction device is adapted to deliver a distractive force through the second distraction member to the second vertebral bone;

actuating the distraction device and distracting the lamina segments of the first and second vertebral bones away from one another to a distracted position;

decompressing spinal nerves while the lamina segments of the first and second vertebral bones are in the distracted position, wherein the decompression is performed by removing bone and ligament structures that compress the spinal nerves from at least a portion of the lamina of the first vertebral bone or the second vertebral bone;

using a bone graft or bone graft substitute to span a distance from the lamina of the first vertebral bone to the lamina of the second vertebral bone, wherein the bone graft or bone graft substitute is intended to form a bony fusion between the first and second vertebral bones;

implanting an orthopedic device to affix the first and second vertebral bones, wherein the orthopedic device contains at least first and a second opposed surfaces, wherein at least one opposed surface contains at least one protrusion adapted to penetrate a side surface of the spinous process of the first or second vertebral bone, wherein the orthopedic device also contains a locking member adapted to transition from a first state to a second state, wherein the opposed surfaces are movable relative to one another when the locking member is in the first state and immobilized relative to one another when the locking member is in the second state.

12. A method as in claim 11 , wherein implanting the orthopedic device comprises:

positioning the first opposed surfaces of the orthopedic device on a first side of the spinous process of the first or second vertebral bone;

positioning the second opposed surface of the orthopedic device on a side of the spinous process that is opposite to where the first opposed surface is positioned, wherein each of the first and second opposed surfaces are positioned on opposite sides of the same spinous process;

driving the first and second opposed surfaces of the orthopedic device towards one another and capturing the spinous process between the opposed surfaces, wherein the at least one protrusion from at least one opposed surface is forcibly driven into a side surface of the spinous process;

transitioning the locking member of the orthopedic device from the first state to the second state and immobilizing the first and second opposed surfaces relative to the spinous process positioned between the first and second opposed surfaces.

13. A method as in claim 11 , wherein at least one of the distraction members contains a clip member at its first segment, wherein the clip member abuts an outer surface of a lamina surface of the first or second vertebral bone.

14. A method as in claim 11 , wherein the implanted orthopedic device attaches to the spinous process of one vertebral bone and to threaded fasteners anchored into the other vertebral bone.

15. A method as in claim 14 , wherein the threaded fasteners are anchored into the pedicle portion of the other vertebral bone.

16. A method as in claim 11 , wherein the bone forming material is positioned to span the distance from the lamina of the first vertebral bone to the lamina of the second vertebral bone and further positioned to cross the vertebral midline.

17. A method as in claim 11 , wherein the bone graft or bone graft substitute is contained at the site of implantation within a bone graft containment device.

18. A method for the implantation of non-fusion orthopedic implants within a vertebral column, comprising:

coupling a first segment of a first distraction member to a spinous process of a first vertebral bone, wherein the first distraction member has a second segment that couples to a distraction device, wherein the distraction device is adapted to deliver a distractive force through the first distraction member to the first vertebral bone;

coupling a first segment of a second distraction member to a second vertebral bone, wherein the second distraction member has a second segment that couples to the distraction device, wherein the distraction device is adapted to deliver a distractive force through the second distraction member to the second vertebral bone;

actuating the distraction device and distracting the spinous processes of the first and second vertebral bones away from one another to a distracted position;

decompressing a spinal nerves while the spinous process of the first and second vertebral bones are coupled to the distraction device and in the distracted position, wherein the decompression is performed by removing bone and ligament structures that compress the spinal nerves from at least a portion of the lamina of the first vertebral bone or the second vertebral bone;

implanting an orthopedic device to affix onto the first and second vertebral bones, wherein the orthopedic device contains at least first and second opposed surfaces, wherein at least one of the opposed surfaces contains at least one protrusion adapted to penetrate a side surface of the spinous process of the first or second vertebral bone, wherein the orthopedic device also contains a locking member adapted to transition from a first state to a second state, wherein the opposed surfaces are movable relative to one another when the locking member is in the first state and immobilized relative to one another when the locking member is in the second state.

19. A method as in claim 18 , wherein implanting the orthopedic device comprises:

positioning the first opposed surfaces of the orthopedic device on a first side of the spinous process of the first or second vertebral bone;

positioning the second opposed surface of the orthopedic device on a side of the spinous process that is opposite to where the first opposed surface is positioned, wherein each of the first and second opposed surfaces are positioned on opposite sides of the same spinous process;

driving the first and second opposed surfaces of the orthopedic device towards one another and capturing the spinous process between the opposed surfaces;

transitioning the locking member of the orthopedic device from the first state to the second state and immobilizing the first and second opposed surfaces relative to the spinous process.

20. A method as in claim 18 , wherein the implanted orthopedic device attaches to the spinous process of one vertebral bone and to threaded fasteners anchored into the other vertebral bone.