Spinal Fixation Construct And Methods Of Use

Abstract

A spinal fixation construct for aligning vertebral bodies includes a bone screw, a spinal rod, a flexible member, and a fixation member. The spinal rod is disposed within a saddle portion of a housing of the bone screw, and includes an elongated body having a first end and a second end. The spinal rod is formed from a first material having a first modulus of elasticity. The flexible member is coupled to the spinal rod, and includes an elongated body having a first end portion and a second end portion. The flexible member is formed from a second material having a second modulus of elasticity that is different from the first modulus of elasticity. The fixation member includes a threaded body portion and a head portion defining a hole therethrough. A portion of the flexible member extends through the hole of the head portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spinal fixation construct comprising:
 first and second implants defining respective first and second rod passages;   first and second spinal rods including respective first and second apertures formed therethrough, a portion of the first rod positioned within the first rod passage and a portion of the second rod positioned within the second rod passage; and   a band, a portion of the band extending through the first and second apertures of the first and second spinal rods.   
     
     
         2 . The construct of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second fixation members including respective first and second shafts and head portions defining first and second passageways. 
     
     
         3 . The construct of  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the band extends through the first and second passageways. 
     
     
         4 . The construct of  claim 3 , wherein a portion of the band is configured to extend through a spinous process. 
     
     
         5 . The construct of  claim 1 , wherein the first spinal rod extends along a first longitudinal axis and the second spinal rod extends along a second longitudinal axis, the first and second longitudinal axes being parallel to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The construct of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the band is configured to extend around a lamina. 
     
     
         7 . The construct of  claim 1 , further comprising third and fourth implants including respective third and fourth rod passages. 
     
     
         8 . The spinal fixation construct of  claim 7 , wherein a portion of the first spinal rod is positioned within the first and third rod passages and a portion of the second spinal rod is positioned within the second and fourth rod passages. 
     
     
         9 . The spinal fixation construct of  claim 1 , wherein the band is flexible and forms a continuous loop. 
     
     
         10 . A spinal fixation construct comprising:
 first and second implants defining respective first and second rod passages;   first and second spinal rods including respective first and second apertures formed entirely therethrough, a portion of the first rod positioned within the first rod passage and a portion of the second rod positioned within the second rod passage; and   a band, a portion of the band configured to extend through the first and second apertures and around a bone.   
     
     
         11 . The spinal fixation construct of  claim 10 , wherein the first spinal rod extends along a first longitudinal axis and the second spinal rod extends along a second longitudinal axis being parallel to the first longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         12 . The spinal fixation construct of  claim 11 , wherein a portion of the band extends along a third longitudinal axis perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal axes between the first and second apertures. 
     
     
         13 . The spinal fixation construct of  claim 10 , wherein the bone is a lamina. 
     
     
         14 . The spinal fixation construct of  claim 10 , further comprising first and second fixation members including respective first and second shafts and head portions defining first and second passageways. 
     
     
         15 . The spinal fixation construct of  claim 14 , wherein a portion of the band extends through the first and second passageways. 
     
     
         16 . The spinal fixation construct of  claim 14 , wherein a portion of the band extends between the first and second fixation members. 
     
     
         17 . The spinal fixation construct of  claim 14 , wherein a portion of band is configured to extend around a spinous process. 
     
     
         18 . A method of aligning vertebral bodies, the method comprising:
 placing a portion of a first spinal rod within a first rod passage of a first spinal implant;   placing a portion of a second spinal rod within a second rod passage of a second spinal implant;   extending a portion of a band through a first aperture formed entirely through a body of the first spinal rod, through a second aperture formed entirely through a body of the second spinal rod, and around a portion of a bone.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the extending step includes looping a portion of the band around at least one of a lamina and a spinous process. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising extending a portion of the band through a first passageway of a head of a first fixation member and through a second passageway of a head of a second fixation member.