A clamp assembly for orthopedic use having a housing that includes a top surface, a recess, a distal base and a bottom surface, the recess defining a longitudinal axis and extending through the housing from the top surface through the distal base and toward the bottom surface, and at least two through slots, each one of being disposed at a bottom or a side a surface of the housing. The assembly including a securement assembly positionable within the recess in a co-axial relationship to a mating surface on the recess, and a band sized for travel along a predetermined path defined in part by the through slots in the housing, wherein at least one of the through slots is a starting point for travel of the band along the predetermined path.

A clamp assembly for orthopedic use having a housing that includes a top surface, a recess, a distal base and a bottom surface, the recess defining a longitudinal axis and extending through the housing from the top surface through the distal base and toward the bottom surface, and at least two through slots, each one of being disposed at a bottom or a side a surface of the housing. The assembly including a securement assembly positionable within the recess in a co-axial relationship to a mating surface on the recess, and a band sized for travel along a predetermined path defined in part by the through slots in the housing, wherein at least one of the through slots is a starting point for travel of the band along the predetermined path.

Surgical support instruments are described herein that can couple to, e.g., an implanted anchor and provide a platform for coupling other surgical implements thereto. In one embodiment, an instrument can include an elongate body having opposed projections extending laterally from a distal portion thereof that can at least partially surround a shank of an implantable anchor such that a longitudinal axis of the elongate body is laterally offset from a longitudinal axis of the anchor. The instrument can further include a lock configured to exert a drag force on a head of the anchor to control polyaxial movement of the instrument relative to the anchor. Further, a proximal portion of the elongate body can be configured to receive a retractor assembly including a plurality of tissue manipulating implements and selectively lock the retractor assembly at any of a plurality of positions along a length of the elongate body.

Embodiments of a corpectomy method, comprising the steps of: providing a distractor unit comprising at least a first hydraulic cylinder configured to removably receive a piston of a predetermined length during a surgical procedure; providing the piston; providing a plurality of bone screws; affixing a first bone screw of the plurality of bone screws to a first vertebrae of a spine and a second bone screw of the plurality of bone screws to a second vertebrae of the spine; mounting the distractor unit onto the first bone screw and the second bone screw; and extending the hydraulic piston of the distractor unit to cause the first vertebrae and the second vertebrae to move away from each other are disclosed.

Surgical support instruments are described herein that can couple to, e.g., an implanted anchor and provide a platform for coupling other surgical implements thereto. In one embodiment, an instrument can include an elongate body having opposed projections extending laterally from a distal portion thereof that can at least partially surround a shank of an implantable anchor such that a longitudinal axis of the elongate body is laterally offset from a longitudinal axis of the anchor. The instrument can further include a lock configured to exert a drag force on a head of the anchor to control polyaxial movement of the instrument relative to the anchor. Further, a proximal portion of the elongate body can be configured to receive a retractor assembly including a plurality of tissue manipulating implements and selectively lock the retractor assembly at any of a plurality of positions along a length of the elongate body.

A system and method for the minimally invasive insertion of an intervertebral rod into the vertebrae of a subject, according to a preoperative surgical plan also defining positions for the insertion of rod clamping screws into the vertebrae. The rod shape for connecting the heads of the screws is calculated, and a path planning algorithm used to determine whether the distal end of the rod can be threaded through the screw heads by longitudinal and rotational manipulation of the proximal end of the rod. If so, instructions are provided for forming that rod shape and for the robotic insertion of the screw holes and the rod. If not, either or both of the screw positions and the rod shape are adjusted, to moderate the bends in the rods, until insertion becomes possible. The insertion can be performed robotically, or, if a navigation tracking system is added, manually.

Systems and methods for en bloc derotating a spinal column are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method can include manipulating first and second frames coupled respectively to a first set of vertebrae and a second set of vertebrae to derotate the first and second sets of vertebrae relative to one another, and subsequently locking a linkage assembly coupled respectively to the first and second frames to maintain the first and second sets of vertebrae in a derotated position.

Problem to be Solved A traverse that is percutaneously provided and a surgical instrument for percutaneously providing the transverse are provided. Solution A rod 10 is placed in each of two rod openings 113, 123 and a transverse bar 130 is inserted in two bar holes 111, 121. Set screws 140, 150 are screwed in screw holes 114, 124. The set screws 140, 150 press the transverse bar 130, thereby restraining the transverse bar 130 in the longitudinal direction. Since portions of the bar holes 111, 121 adjoin the rod openings 113, 123, the pressed transverse bar 130 contacts the rods 10 and pushes the rods 10 against the rod openings 113, 123. A protrusion 127 engages with the rods 10 to restrain hooks 110, 120 in the longitudinal direction and circumferential direction of the rods 10.

A method includes providing first and second instruments. First and second fasteners are attached with vertebrae. First fasteners are connected with first and second constructs. Second fasteners are connected with a third and fourth constructs. The first construct is connected with a body of the first instrument and the second construct is connected with another body of the first instrument. The third construct is connected with a body of the second instrument and the fourth construct is connected with another body of the second instrument. Joints of the instruments are tightened. At least one of the instruments is selectively distracted. At least one of the instruments is selectively compressed. The spinal constructs are removed from the fasteners. The first fasteners are connected with a first spinal rod. The second fasteners are connected with a second spinal rod. In some embodiments, spinal constructs, implants, systems and kits are disclosed.

A screw-based retractor comprises an elongate rack having a rack axis, a plurality of arms slidably supported for translational movement on the rack, and a plurality of blades, one each supported by a respective arm at a distal portion thereof. At least one of the arms includes at its distal portion a blade releasably attached thereto. Such blade is attached to a blade receptacle movably attached to the at least one arm in a manner to provide articulation of the blade receptacle and hence the attached blade about an articulation point spaced from and not located on such arm. Such blade is additionally movable relative to the rack in multiple degrees of freedom.