Patent ID: 8540726

Claim:
A method for implanting a bone screw, comprising the steps of: screwing into a threaded bore in a distal portion of an implantation instrument a rear threaded portion of a bone screw having a front threaded portion separated from the rear threaded portion by an unthreaded middle portion, the bone screw further including a central bore hole therethrough dimensioned to accommodate a guide wire; inserting the guide wire into a first target portion of bone; inserting the implantation instrument over the guide wire such that the front threaded portion of the bone screw is adjacent to the first target portion of bone; rotating the implantation instrument to insert the front threaded portion of the bone screw into the first target portion of bone while a locking component is engaged to prevent rotation of the bone screw relative to the implantation instrument; and rotating the bone screw with a driving tool to drive the bone screw further into the first target portion of bone to a desired depth and out of engagement with the implantation instrument while the locking component is disengaged to permit rotation of the bone screw relative to the implantation instrument.