Method of securing vertebrae

摘要

A method of fixing vertebrae of a patient together at a surgical site includes the following steps: inserting a first cannula (10) into the body (130) of the patient; moving a first fastener (624) through the cannula (10) and securing the first fastener (624) to a first vertebrae (601); moving a second fastener (624) through the cannula (10) and securing the second fastener (624) to a second vertebrae (602); moving a first fixation element (650) through the cannula (10); and fixing the first fixation element (650) to the first and second fasteners (624).

主权项

1. A system for performing a fixation procedure at a spinal location within a patient, comprising:
at least one threaded fastener adapted to be threadedly fixed to a vertebra; an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end sized and adapted for insertion through an incision in skin of the patient and to provide access through the incision to the spinal location, the proximal and distal ends defining a length between the proximal and distal ends such that the proximal end can be positioned outside the patient and the distal end can be positioned inside the patient adjacent the spinal location; the elongate body being expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration such that a transverse dimension at a first location is greater than a transverse dimension at a second location, wherein the first location is distal to the second location; and wherein the elongate body provides an access path through the incision to the spinal location sized to permit passage of the at least one fastener therethrough, and wherein at least in the second configuration, the access path has a first transverse dimension greater than a second transverse dimension perpendicular to the first transverse dimension at least at the first location.