Polyaxial pedicle screw locking and derotation instrument

1. A pedicle screw locking and derotation instrument, comprising:

an elongate actuation mechanism; and

a pair of clamp members coupled to the elongate actuation mechanism and deployed by actuation of the elongate actuation mechanism;

wherein each of the pair of clamp members comprises a portion configured to selectively and securely engage a threaded shaft of a pedicle screw and a portion configured to selectively and securely engage a head body of the pedicle screw, thereby holding the threaded shaft and the head body in rigid alignment;

wherein each of the pair of clamp members comprises a retention portion that is configured to be selectively disposed beneath the head body of the pedicle screw and about the threaded shaft of the pedicle screw; and

wherein the retention portion is disposed at an angle to the remainder of each of the pair of clamp members and defines a half-circle interior portion that is configured to engage the threaded shaft of the pedicle screw.

2. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the elongate actuation mechanism comprises a pair of elongate arms that are pivotably hinged to one another and comprise a pair of handle portions.

3. The instrument of claim 2 , further comprising a ratcheting mechanism coupling the pair of elongate arms.

4. The instrument of claim 2 , wherein the pair of clamp members are pivotably hinged to the pair of elongate arms.

5. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the pair of clamp members are pivotably hinged to one another.

6. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the pair of clamp members collectively define a void that is disposed about and substantially conforms to the head body of the pedicle screw.

7. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the elongate actuation mechanism is operable for imparting rotational motion to the pedicle screw and an individual vertebra in which the pedicle screw is implanted.

8. A pedicle screw locking and derotation instrument, comprising:

an elongate actuation mechanism, wherein the elongate actuation mechanism comprises a pair of elongate arms that are pivotably hinged to one another and comprise a pair of handle portions; and

a pair of clamp members coupled to the elongate actuation mechanism and deployed by actuation of the elongate actuation mechanism;

wherein each of the pair of clamp members comprises a retention portion configured to selectively and securely engage a threaded shaft of a pedicle screw and a portion configured to selectively and securely engage a head body of the pedicle screw, thereby holding the threaded shaft and the head body in rigid alignment;

wherein each of the pair of clamp members comprises a retention portion that is configured to be selectively disposed beneath the head body of the pedicle screw and about the threaded shaft of the pedicle screw; and

wherein the retention portion is disposed at an angle to the remainder of each of the pair of clamp members and defines a half-circle interior portion that is configured to engage the threaded shaft of the pedicle screw.

9. The instrument of claim 8 , further comprising a ratcheting mechanism coupling the pair of elongate arms.

10. The instrument of claim 8 , wherein the pair of clamp members are pivotably hinged to the pair of elongate arms.

11. The instrument of claim 8 , wherein the pair of clamp members are pivotably hinged to one another.

12. The instrument of claim 8 , wherein the pair of clamp members collectively define a void that is disposed about and substantially conforms to the head body of the pedicle screw.

13. The instrument of claim 8 , wherein the elongate actuation mechanism is operable for imparting rotational motion to the pedicle screw and an individual vertebra in which the pedicle screw is implanted.

14. A pedicle screw locking and derotation method, comprising:

implanting a pedicle screw in an individual vertebra of a spine;

rigidly securing a head body of the pedicle screw to a threaded shaft of the pedicle screw using a pedicle screw locking and derotation instrument; and

displacing the instrument laterally such that the pedicle screw is rotated about an axis of the spine, thereby rotating the individual vertebra about the axis of the spine;

wherein the instrument comprises:

an elongate actuation mechanism; and

a pair of clamp members coupled to the elongate actuation mechanism and deployed by actuation of the elongate actuation mechanism;

wherein each of the pair of clamp members comprises a portion configured to selectively and securely engage the threaded shaft of the pedicle screw and a portion configured to selectively and securely engage the head body of the pedicle screw, thereby holding the threaded shaft and the head body in rigid alignment;

wherein each of the pair of clamp members comprises a retention portion that is configured to be selectively disposed beneath the head body of the pedicle screw and about the threaded shaft of the pedicle screw; and

wherein the retention portion is disposed at an angle to the remainder of each of the pair of clamp members and defines a half-circle interior portion that is configured to engage the threaded shaft of the pedicle screw.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the elongate actuation mechanism comprises a pair of elongate arms that are pivotably hinged to one another and comprise a pair of handle portions.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising a ratcheting mechanism coupling the pair of elongate arms.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the pair of clamp members are pivotably hinged to the pair of elongate arms.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the pair of clamp members are pivotably hinged to one another.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the pair of clamp members collectively define a void that is disposed about and substantially conforms to the head body of the pedicle screw.