Patent ID: 8740945

Claim:
A spinal stabilization system comprising: a polyaxial pedicle screw including a housing and a threaded shaft extending from the housing, the threaded shaft pivotable relative to the housing to a plurality of angular positions, the housing including a channel extending from a first side of the housing to a second side of the housing; an insert positionable in the channel of the housing, the insert including an open channel extending from a first end surface of the insert to a second end surface of the insert, wherein the open channel is defined as a recessed area between a first edge of the insert and a second edge of the insert and opening to a periphery of the insert; a support construct including a spacer and a cord extendable through a lumen of the spacer, the cord positionable in the open channel of the insert such that a first portion of the cord extends from the first side of the housing of the polyaxial pedicle screw and a second portion of the cord extends from the second side of the housing of the polyaxial pedicle screw; and a fastener configured to rotatably engage the housing of the polyaxial pedicle screw, wherein rotational engagement of the fastener with the housing causes the fastener to directly contact the cord to exert a clamping force directly on the cord, and to directly contact the first and second edges of the insert only once the cord has been compressed between the fastener and the insert a predetermined amount; wherein further rotational engagement of the fastener with the housing does not increase compression of the cord between the fastener and the insert beyond the predetermined amount; wherein the insert includes a first flange proximate the first end of the insert, a second flange proximate the second end of the insert, and a medial portion extending between the first flange and the second flange, the first flange positionable exterior of the housing and facing the first side of the housing and the second flange positionable exterior of the housing and facing the second side of the housing; and wherein the first flange includes a slot extending from the open channel to a peripheral edge of the first flange and the second flange includes a slot extending from the open channel to a peripheral edge of the second flange, such that the cord can be positioned in the open channel through movement of the cord in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the open channel.