NITINOL INSTRUMENTATION AND METHOD FOR TREATING SCOLIOSIS

摘要

A method and implant for the surgical treatment of scoliosis is disclosed. The method involves the segmental fixation of a rigid rod or rods (38) to the abnormally curved portion of the spine. The rod is constructed of a shape memory alloy such as nitinol. Prior to implementation, the rod is annealed and contoured into an ideal shape for a given patient. At the time of surgery, the rod is deformed to accommodate the existing curvature of the patient's spine and segmentally fixed thereto. The rod is then inductively heated to the transition temperature postoperatively to effect shape recovery and thereby apply corrective forces to the spine. Also disclosed are clamps (20, 24), constructed of shape memory material, for securing the rod to a vertebra (23, 35).