Patent ID: 8556941

Claim:
A method for treating spinal column shape deformation comprising: fixing a first fixation screw assembly to a first vertebra of a patient's spinal column, the first fixation screw assembly having a fixation screw, a rod receiving channel with separable channel arm extensions, the channel being movable relative to the fixation screw through a range of angles, the first fixation screw assembly having a locking device for separately locking the channel against movement relative to the fixation screw and the rod against movement in the channel, adjusting the channel of the first fixation screw assembly to a first plane oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the axis of the fixation screw and laterally relative to the spinal column toward the coronal plane of the spinal column, positioning a rod between the arm extensions of the first fixation screw assembly and in the first plane, adjusting the channel medially toward the saggital plane of the spinal column, and thereby the rod relative to the fixation screw, to reduce the angle of orientation of the channel with respect to the axis of the fixation screw and to place the rod in a second plane generally aligned with the saggital plane, adjusting the locking device to lock the channel relative to the fixation screw, adjusting the rod relative to the channel, and adjusting the locking device to lock the rod against movement relative to the channel.