METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPINAL FIXATION USING MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGICAL TECHNIQUES

摘要

An improved method and guide wire (13) assembly used in a system, set of instrumentation and method comprising the combination and use of plural pedicle screws (11), a rod (22) for connecting pedicle screws (11) in a relatively rigid manner, and instrumentation to optimize insertion of the rod (22) into the pedicle screws (11), the assembly having a guide wire (13) and instrumentation (61) to grasp a medial portion the guide wire (13) to pull the medial portion through all the pedicle screws (11) and connecting the loop to the end of a fixation rod (22), whereby one end of the guide wire (13) is mounted to a pedicle screw (11), all the screws (11) are implanted into the vertebrae, and the rod (22) subsequently guided into the pedicle screws (11) by pulling the guide wire ( 13) loop back through the pedicle screws (11), all using minimally invasive surgical incisions.