Method for improved spinal correction surgery implementing non-fusion anterior scoliosis correction techniques with vertebrae de-rotation

1. An improved method of performing spinal correction surgery on a patient in which a plurality of vertebrae are adjusted with respect to each other using a de-rotation procedure, comprising the steps of:

creating a vertical mini-opening in a side of the patient to enable the surgeon to access directly the plurality of the vertebrae without use of a portal;

inserting, via the mini-opening, an anchor screw into each of the plurality of vertebrae being operated on, each anchor screw comprising a channel suitable for accepting a flexible tensioning cord;

disposing, via the mini-opening, a flexible tensioning cord within the channels of the anchor screws to enable a de-rotation procedure on the plurality of vertebrae; and

performing a vertebrae de-rotation procedure by

locating a stationary tower on a first anchor screw of a first vertebra;

locating a de-rotation tower on a second anchor screw of a second vertebra;

performing a de-rotation maneuver by

applying a downwards translational force vector to the de-rotation tower,

applying a lateral force vector to the de-rotation tower, and

simultaneously applying a lateral counterforce vector to the stationary tower in opposition to the lateral force vector being applied to the de-rotation tower;

tensioning the flexible tensioning cord in the channel of the second anchor screw; and

securing the flexible tensioning cord in the channel of the second anchor screw in order to maintain the de-rotation of the vertebrae.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising re-locating the de-rotation tower to a subsequent vertebra and repeating the de-rotation maneuver.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the de-rotation procedure further comprises re-locating the stationary tower to a subsequent vertebra and repeating the de-rotation maneuver.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of creating a vertical mini-opening in a side of the patient to enable the surgeon to access directly the plurality of the vertebrae comprises:

the patient lying on an opposite side on an operating table,

placing an x-ray machine over the side of the patient,

marking a line on the skin of the patient along the vertebrae to be operated on as indicated by the x-ray machine, and

incising the skin of the patient along a portion of the marked line to create the mini-opening.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the mini-opening is between approximately four and six inches in length.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising inserting a portal into at a least one location along the marked line of the patent outside of the incised mini-opening to create access to vertebrae outside of the mini-opening by cutting a plane under the skin adjacent to the mini-opening, and lifting the skin adjacent to the mini-opening to enable access to the interspace under the skin adjacent to the mini-opening.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of performing a segmental vessel preservation procedure on at least one vessel adjacent a vertebra prior to inserting an anchor screw into the vertebrae, by

inserting a surgical instrument under the segmental vessel adjacent the vertebra, and

retracting the segmental vessel away from the vertebra so as to allow inserting a staple and corresponding anchor screw into the vertebrae without damaging the segmental vessel.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of de-compressing a disc between adjacent vertebrae using a spreader to spread the adjacent vertebrae with respect to each other.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of performing a disc release procedure on a disc located between a pair of adjacent vertebrae to enable the pair of adjacent vertebrae to be adjusted with respect to each other.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of performing a disc release procedure on a disc located between adjacent vertebrae of the spine of the patient comprises incising a disc near its center to allow additional movement of the adjacent vertebrae during the operation.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising performing a distraction procedure on at least one pair of adjacent vertebrae of the spine of the patient by inserting a paddle in a previously released disc between two vertebrae adjacent the vertebrae to be compressed and rotating the paddle in order to urge the adjacent vertebrae together.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the disc release procedure is performed prior to the step of inserting an anchor screw into each of the plurality of vertebrae being operated on.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the disc release procedure is performed subsequent to the step of inserting an anchor screw into each of the plurality of vertebrae being operated on.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of anchor screws is inserted into substantially the center of the side of each of the vertebrae.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least some of the plurality of anchor screws are offset horizontally from the center of the side of the vertebrae whereby the tensioning cord is offset horizontally and located more towards the posterior in the middle of the spine.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least some of the plurality of anchor screws are offset vertically from the center of the side of the vertebrae.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the tensioning cord is disposed only within the channels of the first anchor screw and the second anchor screw prior to performing the de-rotation procedure.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the tensioning cord is disposed within the channels of all of the anchor screws prior to performing the de-rotation procedure.