Patent ID: 8177810

Claim:
A method for stabilizing a spinal segment comprising a first and a second vertebrae, the method comprising the steps of: providing first and second anchors, wherein each anchor has a first portion adapted to be inserted into a vertebra and a second portion adapted to engage an elongate element; providing third and fourth anchors, wherein each anchor has a first portion adapted to be inserted into a vertebra and a second portion adapted to engage an elongate element; attaching the first and second anchors to the first vertebra; attaching the third and fourth anchors to the second vertebra, wherein the attachments of the first, second, third, and fourth anchors in the first and second vertebrae define an area; positioning a mesh component over at least a portion of the first and second vertebrae, wherein at least a portion of the mesh component lies within the area; connecting the first, second, and third anchors with a first elongate element; and connecting the first, second, and fourth anchors with a second elongate element, wherein the first and second elongate elements hold at least a portion of the mesh component within the area.