Adjustable axial spinal rod connector

1. An axial spinal rod connector comprising:

a central connector defining a central passage having a central diameter; and

first and second portions each integrally formed with the central connector to define a longitudinal axis, each of the first and second portions including:

an outer end portion defining a passage about the longitudinal axis and defining a blind hole orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the blind hole extending into the passage, the passage sized and configured to slidably receive a spinal rod, the passage having a diameter larger than the central diameter; and

a set screw sized and configured to engage the blind hole, the set screw at least partially interfering with the passage when engaged with the blind hole to fix a position of the spinal rod relative to the spinal rod connector, the blind holes configured to receive a portion of a pusher instrument to adjust a length of a spinal rod received within the passage.

2. The spinal rod connector of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the first portion is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the second portion.

3. The spinal rod connector of claim 2 , wherein the passages of the first and second portions and the central passage define a lumen.

4. The spinal rod connector of claim 1 , wherein the passage is a cylindrical stepped hole having a first diameter adjacent the blind hole and a second diameter smaller than the first diameter adjacent the central connector, the passage defining a stop at the transition from the first diameter to the second diameter.

5. The spinal rod connector of claim 4 , wherein the stop and the central connector define a gap therebetween.

6. The spinal rod connector of claim 1 , wherein each outer end portion further includes a stop inserted through sidewalls and the passage of the respective first and second portions, the stop interfering with the passage of the respective portion to define a gap between the stop and the central portion.

7. The spinal rod connector of claim 4 , wherein the second diameter is smaller than the central diameter.

8. The spinal rod connector of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second portions further defines a slot through a top surface thereof between the central connector and the outer end portion.

9. The spinal rod connector of claim 8 , wherein the slot extends through the bottom surface.

10. The spinal rod connector of claim 1 , wherein the central connector includes opposing notches on an outer surface thereof, the notches sized and configured to receive a forceps.

11. The spinal rod connector of claim 1 , wherein the passage in the first portion defines a first diameter and the passage of the second portion defines a second diameter different from the first diameter.

12. The spinal rod connector of claim 1 , wherein the central connector is adapted to prevent a spinal rod from passing between the first and second portions.

13. A method for adjusting an axial spinal rod connector, the method comprising:

positioning the spinal rod connector over an end of a first spinal rod, the spinal rod connector including:

a central connector defining a central passage having a central diameter; and

first and second portions each integrally formed with the central connector to define a longitudinal axis, each of the first and second portions including an outer end portion, the outer end portion of each of the first and second portions defining a passage about the longitudinal axis and defining a blind hole orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the blind hole extending into the passage, the passage of the first portion receiving the end of the first spinal rod, the passage having a diameter larger than the central diameter, each of the first and second portions defining a slot through a top surface in communication with the passage;

adjusting the axial spinal rod connector until a desired length of the first spinal rod is received within the passage of the first portion by engaging the blind hole of the first portion with a distal end of a first handle of a pusher instrument and inserting a nub of a distal end of a second handle of the pusher instrument into the slot of the first portion;

inserting a first set screw into the blind hole of the first portion; and

tightening the first set screw to fix the first spinal rod to the first portion.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein adjusting the axial spinal rod connector further includes viewing the end of the first spinal rod through the slot.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein a top surface of the first portion includes markings and adjusting the axial spinal rod connector further includes aligning the end of the first spinal rod with one of the markings corresponding to the desired length.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein adjusting the axial spinal rod connector further includes:

manipulating the first and second handles of the pusher instrument such that the nub engages the end of the first spinal rod until a desired length of the first spinal rod is received within the passage of the first portion.

17. A kit comprising:

an axial spinal rod connector including:

a central connector defining a central passage having a central diameter; and

first and second portions each integrally formed with the central connector and each defining a longitudinal axis, each of the first and second portions including:

an outer end portion defining a passage about the longitudinal axis and defining a blind hole orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the blind hole extending into the passage, the passage sized and configured to slidably receive a spinal rod, the passage having a diameter larger than the central diameter; and

a set screw sized and configured to engage the blind hole, the set screw at least partially interfering with the passage when engaged with the blind hole to fix a position of a spinal rod relative to the spinal rod connector; and

a pusher instrument including a first handle and a second handle, a distal end of the first handle configured to engage the blind hole of a respective one of the first or second portions and a distal end of the second handle configured to be received within a slot of a one of the first or second portions to adjust a length of a spinal rod within one of the passages of the axial spinal rod connector.

18. An axial spinal rod connector comprising:

a central connector defining a central passage having a central diameter;

a first portion integrally formed with the central connector to define a longitudinal axis, the first portion including a first outer end portion defining a first passage about the longitudinal axis and defining a first blind hole orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the first blind hole extending into the first passage, the first passage having a diameter larger than the central diameter, the first blind hole configured to receive a portion of a pusher instrument to adjust a length of a spinal rod received within the first passage; and

a second portion integrally formed with the central connector including a second outer end portion defining a second passage about the longitudinal axis and defining a second blind hole orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the second blind hole extending into the second passage, the second passage having a diameter larger than the central diameter.