Patent ID: 8123751

Claim:
A pedicle screw assembly comprising: a threaded shaft; a head including a housing and an elongated body, the housing configured to receive a fixation element, the housing attached to the elongated body at a break-off portion, wherein the elongated body extends along a longitudinal axis, wherein the elongated body is adapted to be removed from the housing at the break-off portion and the elongated body has a length sufficient such that the elongated body extends above a patient's skin when the screw is secured to the patient's vertebra; and a removal device, the removal device including a first handle connected to an inner sleeve and a second handle connected to an outer sleeve, the inner sleeve configured to engage the elongated body, the outer sleeve configured to engage the housing, wherein the inner sleeve is configured to rotate within the outer sleeve such that forces applied to the first and second handles exert a shear stress on the break-off portion, separating the elongated body from the housing and allowing the elongated body to be removed.