Patent ID: 7625375

Claim:
A spinal stabilization system, comprising: a stabilization device positionable along a spinal column, said stabilization device including at least one auxiliary element mounted thereto, said at least one auxiliary element including a cannulation extending at least partially therethrough between a proximal opening of said auxiliary element oriented away from the spinal column and a distal opening of said auxiliary element oriented toward the spinal column when said stabilization device is positioned along the spinal column; and a holding element including a distal portion and a proximal portion, said distal portion including an elongated shaft extending from said proximal portion to a distal end, wherein with said at least one auxiliary element mounted to said stabilization device said distal end of said distal portion is configured for placement into said proximal opening and through said distal opening of said cannulation to advance said shaft through said proximal opening to releasably engage a distal end of said proximal portion with said auxiliary element in an interfitting relationship and position said distal end of said shaft distally of said distal opening of said auxiliary element to enter into bone and engage the spinal column to maintain a positioning of said stabilization device along the spinal column and said distal end of said proximal portion preventing said auxiliary element from moving relative to said stabilization member, wherein when said holding element is engaged to said auxiliary element with said distal portion of said holding element extending distally from said auxiliary element and into bone of the spinal column, rotation of said proximal and distal portions of said holding element rotates said auxiliary element relative to said stabilization device.