Flexible fastening system
A flexible implant system includes a flexible implant, an implant housing, and an implant set screw. The flexible implant is configured to loop around a portion of a bony element. The implant housing includes a housing body defining a rod passage configured to receive an rod. The housing body also defines an implant passage that receives a portion of the flexible implant. The implant set screw engages the flexible implant within the implant passage to fix the flexible implant to the implant housing.
1. A method for securing a spinal rod to a bony element, the method comprising:
looping a flexible member around the bony element;
positioning the spinal rod in a first passage of a monolithic implant;
advancing a first screw in a first opening of the implant to secure the rod to the implant;
passing a portion of the flexible member through a second passage of the implant;
tensioning the flexible member about the bony element; and
advancing a second screw in a second opening of the implant to secure the portion of the flexible member to the implant, the second opening being parallel to and offset from the first opening, wherein advancing the second screw comprises moving a chock engaged with the second screw into engagement with the flexible member and rotating the chock about a pin inserted through a housing of the implant and through the chock.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising trimming an excess portion of the flexible member after advancing the second screw to secure the portion of the flexible member to the implant.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein tensioning the flexible member about the bony element and advancing the second screw to secure the portion of the flexible member to the implant occurs prior to advancing the first screw to secure the rod to the implant.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein looping a flexible member around the bony element includes passing a leader of the flexible member around the bony element and pulling the leader to draw the flexible member around the bony element.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein tensioning the flexible member includes engaging a tensioning instrument to the flexible member and to the implant.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the tensioning instrument includes a clamping mechanism having an engagement portion and tensioning the flexible member includes clamping a portion of the flexible member within the engagement portion.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein tensioning the flexible member includes moving the clamping mechanism of the tensioning instrument while the flexible member is clamped within the clamping mechanism.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein tensioning the flexible member includes rotating a tensioning screw of the tensioning instrument to tension the flexible member.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein passing a portion of the flexible member through the second passage includes passing the portion of the flexible member in a direction transverse to the rod.
10. A method for securing a spinal rod to a bony element, the method comprising:
looping a flexible member around the bony element;
positioning the spinal rod in a first passage of a housing of an implant;
fixing the implant housing relative to the spinal rod;
passing a portion of the flexible member through a second passage of the implant housing;
rotating a chock about a pin inserted through the implant housing and through the chock to secure the flexible member relative to the implant housing.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein rotating the chock comprises advancing a screw in an opening of the implant housing, the screw being engaged with the chock.
12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising tensioning the flexible member about the bony element.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein tensioning the flexible member about the bony element and rotating the chock about the pin to secure the flexible member relative to the implant housing occurs prior to fixing the implant housing relative to the spinal rod.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein tensioning the flexible member includes engaging a tensioning instrument to the flexible member and to the implant housing.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein passing a portion of the flexible member through the second passage includes passing the portion of the flexible member in a direction transverse to the rod.
16. A method for securing a spinal rod to a bony element, the method comprising:
looping a flexible member around the bony element;
positioning the spinal rod in a first passage of a monolithic implant;
passing a portion of the flexible member through a second passage of an implant housing;
advancing a screw into an opening of the implant to secure the portion of the flexible member to the implant;
rotating a chock about a pin inserted through a housing of the implant and through the chock;
tensioning the flexible member about the bony element by engaging the implant housing with a tensioning instrument and rotating a tensioning screw of the tensioning instrument.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising advancing a rod set screw into a rod opening of the implant to secure the rod to the implant.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein tensioning the flexible member includes inserting a portion of the tensioning instrument within the implant housing.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the rotating step moves the chock into engagement with the flexible member.