Method for improved spinal correction surgery implementing non-fusion anterior scoliosis correction techniques for release of discs

1. An improved method of performing a spinal correction operation on a patient in a plurality of vertebrae are adjusted with respect to each other, comprising the steps of:

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

performing a disc release procedure via the mini-opening 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, said disc release procedure comprising incising the disc near its center to allow additional movement of the adjacent vertebrae during the operation;

inserting 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 a flexible tensioning cord within the channels of the anchor screws to enable an adjustment procedure on the plurality of vertebrae; and

performing a vertebrae adjustment procedure in which each of the plurality of vertebrae is adjusted with respect to at least one other vertebra and the flexible tensioning cord is secured within the channel of the corresponding anchor screw of the adjusted vertebra in order to maintain the adjustment of the vertebrae.

2. The method of claim 1 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.

3. The method of claim 1 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.

4. The method of claim 1 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.

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

the patient lying on her side on an operating table,

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

marking a line on the skin of the patient along over 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.

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 6 wherein the vertebrae adjustment procedure is a de-rotation procedure comprising the steps of

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, and

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,

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

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

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

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising re-locating the de-rotation tower to the anchor screw of a subsequent vertebra and repeating the de-rotation maneuver.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the de-rotation procedure further comprises re-locating the stationary tower to the anchor screw of a subsequent vertebra and repeating the de-rotation maneuver.

10. The method of claim 7 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.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the tensioning cord is disposed within the channels of all of the anchor screws prior to performing the de-rotation procedure.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein

the stationary tower is located through the portal, and

the de-rotation tower is located through the mini-opening.

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

14. 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 an anchor screw into the vertebrae without damaging the segmental vessel.

15. 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.