Abstract: A method of repairing a pars fracture includes docking a needle guide on a lamina of the pars, inserting a needle at least partially through the needle guide, inserting a stylet at least partially through the needle, inserting a guidewire at least partially through the needle, removing the needle from the needle guide, removing the needle guide, positioning a screw assembly in contact with the lamina and co-axially with the guidewire, rotating an elongated portion of the screw assembly with respect to the lamina to move the screw assembly distally with respect to the lamina such that a distal end of the elongated portion of the screw assembly travels through an interior portion of the pars and into a superior portion of the pars, and approximating the distal end of the elongated portion of the screw assembly and a collar of the screw assembly to approximate the interior portion of the pars and the superior portion of the pars.

Abstract: A spinal fixation device is provided including a modular head assembly and a bone screw. The modular had assembly includes a housing, an anvil, an insert, and a snap ring. The housing defines a proximal surface and an opposite, distal surface, and the proximal and distal surfaces define a throughbore therethrough. The anvil is configured to be slidably received within a portion of the throughbore. The insert defines a proximal surface and an opposite, distal surface, and the distal surface defines a first counterbore therein that terminates at a first annular surface. The first annular surface defines a second counterbore that terminates at a second annular surface. The snap ring is configured to be disposed within the first counterbore of the insert when in a first configuration, and within the second counterbore of the insert when in a second configuration.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an intervertebral trial includes a front surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface and a second side surface that collectively define an internal space. The internal space includes at least one marker structure attached to at least one of the top surface, the bottom surface, the first side surface and the second side surface. The at least one marker structure indicates a dimension of the intervertebral trial. Additionally, the at least one marker structure is spatially representative of the dimension when measured relative to one of the front surface, the top surface, the bottom surface, the first side surface or the second side surface.

Abstract: An instrument for bending a surgical rod includes first and second arm assemblies. The first arm assembly includes first and second arms having respective first and second receiving portions configured to receive the surgical rod therein. The second arm assembly includes third and fourth arms having respective third and fourth receiving portions configured to receive the surgical rod therein. The instrument is reconfigurable from an initial configuration in which the first and third receiving portions of the respective first and third arms engage the surgical rod such that transitioning the first and third arms towards each other bends the surgical rod in a first orientation and transitioning the first and third arms away from each other bends the surgical rod in a second orientation opposite to the first orientation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method using a computer system determines a length of a rod for use in spine correction surgery. With images of a patient, a segment of the spine requiring correction is identified along with first and second points at the ends of the segment. Then, a first size and a first position of a first circle are determined based on the image such that a portion of the first circle is generally aligned with a curve of the segment. A second circle with a different size and position is similarly determined based on the image. Both the first and second circles pass adjacent to or through the first point and the second point. A length of a portion of the second circle measured between the first and second points is then used to determine a rod length for a post-surgical spinal alignment.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for minimally open orthopedic spine surgery are disclosed. A first flexible screw-based retractor is designed to be coupled to each pedicle screw inserted into adjacent vertebral bodies. A retractor system is provided in which a first retractor blade is mounted to one of the screws and a second movable retractor blade is moved away from the first blade, in a medial direction, to create a working channel through which the disc space may be accessed for passing instruments and implants. Light may be incorporated into the device to illuminate the surgical field. One or all of the retractor blades may be made of a sterilizable plastic or metal and be disposable or reusable.

Abstract: A system for securing a flexible member to a vertebra includes a flexible member, a fixation member, and an inserter. The flexible member includes two ends. The fixation member includes a head and a shank that defines a longitudinal axis of the fixation member. The head defines a slot that passes through the head orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The slot receives a portion of the flexible member. The inserter includes a handle and a tubular member that has proximal and distal end portion. The proximal end portion is attached to the handle and the distal end portion extends from the handle. The tubular member defines a passage between the proximal and distal end portions. The distal end portion includes a couple for receiving the head of the fixation member with the portion of the flexible member received in the slot of the flexible member.

Abstract: Provided is a novel rod reducing device including a screw jack mechanism that is moveably engaged with an elongated grasping fork assembly, the screw jack mechanism having an elongated threaded portion, the elongated threaded portion being connected at its most distal end to a rod contact member, which is positioned in sliding circumferential contact with each of the two opposing elongated grasping members and the most proximal end of the elongated threaded portion terminating in a controlling member, which can be activated in a measured and controlled manner. A method of using the device is also provided.

Abstract: A spinal rod connector includes first and second arm assemblies and a fastener. The first arm assembly includes a first base portion and a first head portion defining a first slot configured to receive a first spinal rod. The first base portion includes a hook and an extension member including a housing. The second arm assembly is adjustable with respect to the first arm assembly. The second arm assembly includes a second base portion including a hook, a second head portion defining a second slot configured to receive a second spinal rod, and an elongate member extending from the second base portion. The elongate member is configured to be received in the housing of the first arm assembly. The elongate member is rotatable about an axis offset from a longitudinal axis of the housing. The fastener is configured to be received in the housing to secure the elongate member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for fusing cervical vertebrae is provided. The apparatus may include a plate configured to be affixed to at least two vertebrae, and at least two screws configured to affix the plate to an anterior surface of the at least two vertebrae, wherein when the plate is affixed to the at least two vertebrae, the plate is configured to be partially disposed in a disc space between the at least two vertebrae, and extend in an anterior direction beyond an anterior surface of the at least two vertebrae.

Abstract: A swivel distractor includes a blade portion, a flange, and a distraction portion. The flange extends at an angle from a first end of the blade portion. The distraction portion is pivotally coupled to a second end of the blade portion opposite the first end. The distraction portion may include a first foot that is configured to be received in a head of a first pedicle screw and a second foot that is configured to be received in a head of a second pedicle screw. The second foot may be movable relative to the first foot.

Abstract: A system for dilating tissue includes a retractor having a pair of retractor blades that are movable towards and away from each other to retract tissue of a patient. The retractor blades have longitudinal guide channels. A first pin is attachable to a first vertebra. The system also includes an interbody spacer insertion device that has a guide channel for slidably engaging the longitudinal channel guide and is releasably attachable to an interbody spacer. The interbody spacer insertion device is configured to guide the interbody spacer into a space between adjacent vertebrae. A method for using the system includes advancing the retractor blades towards first and second vertebrae. The first retractor blade is attached to the first vertebra using the first pin and the retractor blades are moved away from each other. The interbody spacer insertion device is translated towards the vertebrae to position the interbody spacer between the vertebrae.

Abstract: Methods of correcting a spinal deformity, including securing a first rod on a first side of a spine, securing an anchor on a second side of a spine, securing a lateral coupling between the rod and the anchor, translating and/or derotating the spine and securing a second rod on a second side of the spine to provide secondary stabilization to the spine.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a surgical implant includes simultaneously forming a first component and a second component of the surgical implant. Formation of the first and second components includes depositing a first quantity of material to a building platform and fusing the first quantity of material to form a first layer of the first and second components. The method of manufacturing also includes depositing a second quantity of material over the first layer of the first and second components and fusing the second quantity of material to form a second layer of the first and second components. The surgical implant is fully assembled upon the completion of the formation of the first and second components.

Abstract: A surgical access system includes a connector including an arm, a coupling element, a rod, and a ridged slider. The arm includes first and second notched sections disposed in opposed lateral sides thereof. The coupling element includes a body section defining an opening therethrough, and opposed tabs protruding therefrom that are configured to receive the second notched section therebetween such that the arm is pivotably coupled to the coupling element. The rod includes a shaft having a plurality of angled grooves defined partially along a length thereof. The rod extends through the opening of the coupling element and the first notched section of the arm. The ridged slider includes a first surface having a plurality of ridges extending along a partial length thereof. The ridged slider extends through the coupling element with the plurality of ridges operably engaged with the plurality of angled grooves of the rod.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing surgery based on an analysis of images captured in at least two different planes are disclosed. According to some embodiments, a first X-ray image of a spine in a first plane and a second X-ray image of the spine in a second plane are obtained, and a curve is drawn on the first and second X-ray images so that the curve tracks the vertebral bodies of the spine. The coordinates of the curve in the first and second X-ray images are determined by performing image processing to detect the curve in the X-ray images. A three-dimensional model of the spine is constructed based on the coordinates. The model is analyzed based on medical data relating to the spine and models of other spines to determine parameters of a spinal device. The spinal device is constructed and deployed in the spine based on the parameters.

Abstract: A transverse connector includes a cross member assembly, a first connector assembly, and a second connector assembly. The cross member assembly includes a cross member, a first ring, and a second ring. The cross member has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first ring is receivable on the first end portion of the cross member and the second ring is receivable on the second end portion of the cross member. The first and second connector assemblies are coupled to the first and second rings of the cross member assembly, respectively, to support the cross member between the first and second connector assemblies. The first and second connector assemblies are configured to selectively and releasably secure to bone anchors.

Abstract: A surgical implant assembly includes a surgical implant, a bone plate, and fixation devices. The surgical implant includes a top surface, a bottom surface disposed in opposed relation relative to the top surface, first and second surfaces interconnecting the top and bottom surfaces, and a front surface. First ends of the first and second side surfaces define a back surface extending across a first end of the surgical implant, and the front surface extends across a second end of the surgical implant and interconnects second ends of the first and second side surfaces. At least one cavity is defined in the surgical implant. The bone plate includes an elongate body extending between first and second end portions. The elongate body is positionable adjacent the front surface of the surgical implant. The fixation devices are configured to secure the surgical implant or the bone plate to osseous tissue.

Abstract: A screw insertion instrument includes a housing, a knob, a drive shaft, and a screw alignment post. The housing includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, and the proximal portion includes a proximal body portion defining a channel extending longitudinally therethrough along a longitudinal axis of the housing. The knob is coupled to the proximal portion of the housing and defines an aperture therethrough that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing. The drive shaft extends through the aperture of the knob and the proximal portion of the housing. The screw alignment post is coupled to the distal portion of the housing and is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing.

Abstract: An expandable spinal implant configured for positioning within a space between adjacent vertebral bodies includes an upper body, a lower body, a ratchet mechanism, and a plurality of bone screws. The upper body and lower body are pivotably affixed at a first end and are capable of movement relative to each other. The ratchet mechanism is slidably disposed on one of the upper and lower body and is capable of engaging the opposite one of the upper and lower body thereby permitting movement of the upper and lower body relative to each other in a first direction, but not in a second direction. An insertion instrument capable of being attached to the expandable spinal instrument and a method of performing spinal surgery is also disclosed.