Methods for percutaneously extending an existing spinal construct

1. A method of percutaneously extending an existing spinal construct implanted in a patient having at least two bone engaging implants engaged to corresponding spinal segments and interconnected ipsilaterally by an existing spinal rod, comprising the steps of:

without making an incision, targeting the existing spinal rod to establish the position of said existing rod in said patient using an imaging technique;

creating a percutaneous access path through the tissue of said patient only to a section of said existing spinal rod between two bone engaging implants based on the established existing rod position; and

percutaneously attaching through said access path a rod connector to said section of said existing spinal rod, said rod connector having a first portion for engagement with said section of said existing spinal rod and a second portion rotatably attached to said first portion, said rod connector being manipulated through said access path to engage said section of said existing spinal rod.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said targeting step includes using a targeting rod with fluoroscopy to determine the position of said existing spinal rod.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said creating step includes the step of making a small incision through the skin of the patient and placing the targeting rod through said incision and extending said rod down to said section of said existing spinal rod.

4. The method of claim 3 , further including the step of expanding said incision by placing over said targeting rod a series of sequentially increasing dilating instruments.

5. The method of claim 4 , including the step of placing an access port over the last placed dilating instrument, the access port having a distal end and a proximal end and a length defined by a central longitudinal axis extending therebetween, the distal end being placed adjacent said section of said existing spinal rod such that said central longitudinal axis is generally aligned with and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the existing spinal rod, the proximal end projecting outwardly from the skin of said patient.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said percutaneously attaching step includes introducing said rod connector through said access port and engaging said first portion of said rod connector with said section of said existing spinal rod.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said first portion is configured to engage said section of said existing spinal rod upon rotation, and wherein said first portion is rotated for engagement with said existing spinal rod.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said existing spinal rod defines an axis, and wherein said first portion of said rod connector has a rod receiving opening receiving said section of said existing spinal rod in a direction transverse to said axis.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said second portion is rotatable relative to said first portion about an axis transverse to said axis of said existing rod.

10. A method of extending an existing spinal construct implanted in a patient having at least two bone engaging implants engaged to corresponding spinal segments and interconnected ipsilaterally by an existing spinal rod, comprising the steps of:

making an incision through the skin of the patient to access a section of said existing spinal rod between two bone engaging implants, said existing spinal rod having a longitudinal axis;

passing a rod connector through said incision until said rod connector is adjacent said section of said existing spinal rod, said rod connector including a first portion having a rod receiving opening to receive said section of said existing spinal rod, said rod receiving opening having a first configuration capable of receiving said section of said existing spinal rod in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis and a second different configuration capable of locking the existing spinal rod to said first portion, said first portion defining a first axis that is generally aligned with and substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said existing rod, said rod connector including a second portion attached to said first portion in a first unlocked position in which said second portion rotates relative to said first portion about said first axis and in a second locked position in which said second portion is fixed against said first portion, said second portion having an opening extending therethrough, said first axis of said first portion extending through said opening of said second portion;

without disturbing said existing spinal construct, placing said rod receiving opening of said first portion onto said existing spinal rod in said first configuration; and

locking said section of said existing spinal rod to said first portion said second portion against said first portion along said first axis.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said first portion has an opening defining said first axis, said opening extending through said first portion and communicating with said rod receiving opening.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein said method is practiced in a percutaneous, minimally invasive, or open surgical procedure.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein said second portion is attached to said first portion to rotate and swivel relative to said first portion when in said first unlocked position.

14. A method of extending an existing spinal construct implanted in a patient having at least two bone engaging implants engaged to corresponding spinal segments and interconnected ipsilaterally by an existing spinal rod, comprising the steps of:

making an incision through the skin of the patient to access a section of said existing spinal rod between two bone engaging implants, said existing spinal rod having a longitudinal axis;

passing a rod connector through said first incision until said rod connector is adjacent said section of said existing spinal rod, said rod connector including a first portion having a rod receiving opening to receive said section of said existing spinal rod, said rod receiving opening having a first configuration capable of receiving said section of said existing spinal rod in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis and a second different configuration capable of locking the existing spinal rod to said first portion, said first portion movably supporting a movable element having an engagement end that upon movement extends into said rod receiving opening, said first portion having an opening defining a first axis that is generally aligned with and substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said existing rod, said rod connector including a second portion attached to said first portion in a first unlocked position in which said second portion rotates relative to said first portion about said first axis and in a second locked position in which said second portion is fixed against said first portion, said second portion having an opening extending therethrough, said first axis of said first portion extending through said opening of said second portion;

without disturbing said existing spinal construct, placing said rod receiving opening of said first portion onto said existing spinal rod in said first configuration; and

locking said section of said existing spinal rod to said first portion by moving said movable element to extend said engagement end into said rod receiving opening to thereby change said rod receiving opening from said first configuration to said second configuration; and

locking said second portion against said first portion.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said movable element is moved within said opening of said first portion along said first axis.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein said method is practiced in a percutaneous, minimally invasive, or open surgical procedure.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein said opening of said first portion defining said first axis extends through said first portion and communicates with said rod receiving opening, and wherein said movable element is moved on said first portion along said first axis.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said movable element is threaded and is threadably attached to threads fixed on said first portion.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein said opening extending through said first portion is interiorly threaded, and wherein said movable element is exteriorly threaded and is received in said interiorly threaded opening of said first portion.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein said movable element is movable in the opening of said first portion and the opening of said second portion.

21. A method of extending an existing spinal construct implanted in a patient having at least two bone engaging implants engaged to corresponding spinal segments and interconnected ipsilaterally by an existing spinal rod, comprising the steps of:

making an incision through the skin of the patient to access a section of said existing spinal rod between two bone engaging implants, said existing spinal rod having a longitudinal axis;

passing a rod connector through said incision until said rod connector is adjacent said section of said existing spinal rod, said rod connector including a first portion having a rod receiving opening to receive said section of said existing spinal rod, said rod receiving opening having a first configuration capable of receiving said section of said existing spinal rod in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis and a second different configuration capable of locking the existing spinal rod to said first portion, said first portion having an opening defining a first axis, said rod connector including a second portion attached to said first portion in a first unlocked position in which said second portion rotates relative to said first portion about said first axis and in a second locked position in which said second portion is fixed against said first portion, said second portion having an opening extending therethrough, said first axis of said first portion extending through said opening of said second portion;

without disturbing said existing spinal construct, placing said rod receiving opening of said first portion onto said existing spinal rod in said first configuration; and

rotating said first portion relative to said second portion to engage said section of said existing spinal rod with said first portion in said rod receiving opening.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein said first portion includes a pair of rod engagement members, each of which is rotatable relative to said second portion and engageable with said section of said existing spinal rod.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein said method is practiced in a percutaneous, minimally invasive, or open surgical procedure.