Patent ID: 8221474

Claim:
A method for assembling a system for correcting alignment of a spinal column of a patient, comprising: engaging first and second implants to a first vertebra; engaging a distal portion of respective first and second implant holders to respective ones of the first and second implants, the first and second implant holders each extending from said distal portion along a longitudinal axis to a proximal end outside the patient; engaging a transverse bridge between and to proximal ends of each of the first and second implant holders; and engaging a derotation handle to the transverse bridge at a location between the first and second implant holders and in a generally parallel orientation to a sagittal plane of the spinal column so that the transverse derotation handle extends transversely to the sagital plane; manipulating the derotation handle and the transverse derotation handle to align the spinal column; and engaging elongate stabilization elements to each of the first and second anchors after aligning the spinal column to provide post-operative stabilization after manipulating the derotation handle and the transverse derotation handle to align the spinal column.