Patent ID: 7875030

Claim:
A method for treating a fractured bone, comprising: percutaneously inserting first bone pins into the bone on a first side of a fracture; providing a first fixation rod clamp assembly comprising: a single-piece fixation rod attachment member defining a longitudinal axis and including a jaw portion having first and second opposing jaws configured to receive a bone fixation rod, the first opposing jaw having a first non-zero spring constant and the second opposing jaw having a second non-zero spring constant, the first and second spring constants being unequal and a coupling portion; and a coupling comprising a pin vise cooperating portion to engage a first bone pin locking assembly and configured to receive the coupling portion of the rod attachment member, wherein the bone pin locking assembly comprises a pin vise; engaging an external portion of a first one of the first bone pins, on the first side of the fracture, in the pin vise portion of the first bone pin locking assembly; snapping the jaw portion of the single-piece fixation rod clamp onto the bone fixation rod in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod attachment member; adjusting the fixation rod clamp assembly to a final desired position and orientation; and immobilizing the first fixation rod clamp assembly along the bone fixation rod, wherein the step of immobilizing the first fixation rod clamp assembly along the bone fixation rod is achieved by tightening a first bolt disposed within the rod attachment member jaw portion.