Patent ID: 8366750

Claim:
A method for stabilizing the spine, comprising the steps of: positioning a first set of least two bone anchors on a first side of the spine; positioning a second set of least two bone anchors on a second side of the spine; positioning a first elongated rod of a stabilization member into the first set of at least two bone anchors; pivoting the first elongated rod to position a second elongated rod of the stabilization member into the second set of at least two bone anchors; locking the first elongated rod within the first set of at least two bone anchors; locking the second elongated rod within the second set of at least two bone anchors; wherein the first and second elongate rods are interconnected by a connector portion, the connector portion extending transverse to a central longitudinal axis from a first lateral end to a second lateral end; wherein the connector portion is integrally connected to the first and second elongate rods such that there is no relative movement between the lateral ends and the respective elongate rods to which each end is attached further comprising the step of telescopingly positioning the stabilization member in the lateral direction transverse to the central longitudinal axis to vary a lateral length of the connector portion further comprising the step of selectively varying the lateral length of the connector portion between about 30 mm and 90 mm.