Patent ID: 8100913

Claim:
A method of tightening a locking element in an orthopedic implant, said method comprising: aligning a ratcheting mechanism over said orthopedic implant, wherein said ratcheting mechanism comprises a shaft portion and a sleeve portion positioned completely around said shaft portion; operatively connecting a first wrench to said shaft portion; directly connecting a second wrench to said sleeve portion; rotating said second wrench counter-clockwise to establish a position for leverage; holding said first wrench in a firm position; and rotating said second wrench clockwise while said first wrench is held in said firm position wherein in the aligning process said shaft portion of said ratcheting mechanism is a torsional shaft, wherein said sleeve portion fits over said torsional shaft, wherein said first wrench comprises a torque wrench, wherein said second wrench comprises a counter-torque wrench, and wherein said ratcheting mechanism further comprises: a sleeve dial having a centrally located hole, wherein said sleeve dial fits around said sleeve portion such that the diameter of the sleeve dial hole accommodates said sleeve portion; and a shaft dial operatively connected to said sleeve dial.