Method and System for the Treatment of Spinal Deformities

Abstract

Devices and corresponding methods for the correction of spinal column deformities, vertebral displacements and for the surgical fixation of the spine including vertebral fixing element(s), vertebral connector element(s), and polyaxial correcting element(s) that can house along its structure varying specifically oriented correction element(s). The polyaxial correcting element(s) are mobilized with the help of correcting force element(s) that induce a three-dimensional mobilization of the polyaxial correcting elements and the vertebrae to which these are attached. Longitudinal spinal fixing element(s) provide for the definitive fixation of the spine. The longitudinal spinal fixing element(s) are joined and fixed to the vertebral fixing element(s) or to permanent vertebral connector element(s). The three-dimensional aspect of the spine is accurately envisioned prior to surgery allowing a caregiver to both create a treatment plan and make intra-operative changes as needed in relation to the correction of the spine.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of correcting a deformity of a spine in a patient in need thereof, comprising:
 a pre-operative stage and an operative stage;
 wherein said pre-operative stage comprises the steps of: 
 analyzing an initial position of one or more vertebrae of said deformed spine; 
 determining a pre-planned final position of said one or more vertebrae; and 
 determining placement positions of one or more vertebral correcting elements based on said pre-planned final position of said one or more vertebrae; and 
 wherein said operative stage comprises the steps of: 
 surgically exposing said spine; 
 inserting and affixing at least one set of vertebral fixing elements to said one or more vertebrae; 
 placing one or more vertebral connector elements, wherein said one or more vertebral connector elements join individual vertebral fixing elements of said set of vertebral fixing elements; 
 placing said one or more vertebral correcting elements, wherein said one or more vertebral correcting elements are selected from the group consisting of polyaxial correcting elements sagittal positioning correction elements, sagittal inclination correction elements, and frontal inclination correction elements; 
 wherein said polyaxial correcting elements are attached and fixed to a distal end of said vertebral connector elements or to said vertebral fixing elements; 
 wherein said sagittal positioning correction elements are attached to said polyaxial correcting elements at a pre-planned distance from a distal end of said polyaxial correcting elements; 
 wherein said sagittal inclination correction elements are attached to said polyaxial correcting elements at a pre-planned distance from said distal end of said polyaxial correcting elements; 
 wherein said frontal inclination correction elements are attached to said polyaxial correcting elements at a pre-planned distance from said distal end of said polyaxial correcting elements; 
 placing and tightening one or more corrective force elements, wherein said one or more correcting force elements act upon at least one of said polyaxial correcting elements, said sagittal positioning correction elements, said sagittal inclination correction elements, or said frontal inclination correction elements; 
 placing and tightening of one or more longitudinal spinal fixing elements to said vertebral fixing elements or one or more said vertebral connector elements; 
 removing said one or more corrective force elements; and 
 removing said one or more polyaxial correcting elements, sagittal positioning correction elements, sagittal inclination correction elements and frontal inclination correction elements. 
   
     
     
         22 . A method of correcting a spinal deformity comprising:
 analyzing an initial position of one or more vertebrae of the deformed spine;   determining a pre-planned final position of the one or more vertebrae; and   determining placement positions of one or more vertebral correcting elements based on the pre-planned final position of the one or more vertebral.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising preparing one or more pre-contoured vertebra correcting elements. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising surgically placing the one or more vertebral correcting elements in the determined placement positions; and applying corrective forces to the one or more vertebral correcting elements such that the one or more vertebrae are mobilized into substantially the pre-planned final position. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising pre-operatively determining sizing of the one or more vertebral correcting elements based on the pre-planned final position of the one or more vertebrae. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the vertebral correcting elements provide a pre-determined final sagittal alignment of the one or more vertebrae in a sagittal plane, a pre-determined final sagittal inclination of the one or more vertebrae in a sagittal plane, a pre-determined final frontal inclination of the one or more vertebrae in a frontal plane, a pre-determined final frontal alignment of the one or more vertebrae in a frontal place, and a pre-determined axial inclination of the one ore more vertebrae in an axial plane. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more vertebral correcting elements comprise polyaxial correcting elements, sagittal positioning correction elements, sagittal inclination correction elements, frontal inclination correction elements, or corrective force elements. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising attaching a set of vertebral fixing elements to each of the one or more vertebrae of a spine; placing one or more vertebral connector elements to join individual vertebral fixing elements of the set of vertebral fixing elements attached to each particular vertebrae; and attaching the one or more polyaxial correcting elements to a distal end of the vertebral connector element or to a distal end of the vertebral fixing element and wherein the one or more sagittal positioning correction elements, sagittal inclination correction elements, or frontal inclination correction elements are attached to and placed at a pre-planned distance from a distal end of the one or more polyaxial correcting elements. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising forming custom pre-molded longitudinal fixing elements based on the pre-planned final position of the one or more vertebrae. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the custom pre-molded longitudinal fixing elements are fixed to the one or more vertebral fixing elements or to the one or more vertebral connector elements in a pre-tensioned form. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the corrective forces are applied by a cable tensioning system having a plurality of cables, wherein each of the cables act upon one or more of the vertebral correcting elements. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the corrective forces are applied in a pre-determined manner. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising monitoring the application of the corrective forces in real-time. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the real-time monitoring provides alerts to the caregivers when the corrective forces applied meet the pre-established levels. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the real-time monitoring provides alerts to the caregivers when the corrective forces applied exceed the pre-established levels. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the real-time information is used to modify the pre-planned final position of the vertebrae.