Patent ID: 8147524

Claim:
A method of reducing a spinal deformity, comprising: providing a plurality of elongate elements and first and second reduction elements, each of the elongate elements extending along a longitudinal axis and including a proximal portion and a distal portion; coupling the proximal portions of the elongate elements to respective vertebrae; engaging the first reduction element with the elongate elements to maintain the distal portions of the elongate elements in general alignment relative to a first transverse axis extending along a length of the first reduction element; engaging the second reduction element with the elongate elements; displacing the second reduction element in a proximal direction to generally align the proximal portions of the elongate elements relative to the second reduction element, and wherein the displacing of the second reduction element in the proximal direction causes at least one of the elongate elements to rotate about the first transverse axis of the first reduction element to reduce the spinal deformity; wherein the displacing of the second reduction element in the proximal direction occurs during the maintaining of the distal portions of the elongate elements in general alignment along the first transverse axis of the first reduction element; anchoring a pair of bone anchors to each of a plurality of vertebrae defining the spinal deformity; and interconnecting the pair of bone anchors with a bridge member, wherein the coupling comprises engaging the elongate elements to respective ones of the bridge member.