Patent ID: 8262659

Claim:
A fixation assembly comprising: a carriage block portion having at least one fixation hole configured to receive a bone fastener; a base portion that is elongate along a longitudinal direction, the base portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a recess that extends into the top surface so as to be defined by opposed sidewalls, the recess configured to receive the carriage block; a plate portion that is elongate along the longitudinal direction, the plate portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one bore that extends between said the top surface and the bottom surface, the plate portion configured to be aligned with the base portion along a transverse direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction such that the bore is configured to receive a fastener to couple the plate portion to the base portion to thereby retain the carriage block portion within the recess and at a location between the base portion and the plate portion; and a shim portion that is configured to be received between the carriage block and one of the sidewalls; wherein the shim portion limits the translation of the carriage block portion within the recess relative to the base portion along the longitudinal direction.