Patent ID: 7914562

Claim:
A method of manipulating vertebral orientation and stabilizing spinal vertebrae comprising: fixing position and rotation of a first-end of a fixation plate to a first vertebrae; temporarily fixing position and allowing rotation of a second-end of said fixation plate to a second vertebrae; engaging a central aperture on said fixation plate with a positioning tool that is keyed to interface with said central aperture; adjusting orientation of said first vertebrae with respect to said second vertebrae by transferring force from said positioning tool through said fixation plate to said first vertebrae and said second vertebrae; removing said positioning tool from said fixation plate; implanting a stabilizer between said first vertebrae and said second vertebrae through said aperture; releasing said temporary fixation of said second-end of said fixation plate; compressing said stabilizer between said first vertebrae and said second vertebrae by adjusting a distance between said first vertebrae and said second vertebrae; and, fixing said distance between said first vertebrae and said second vertebrae by rigidly securing position and rotation of said second-end of said fixation plate to said second vertebrae.