초록 ▼

Systems and methods for stabilizing the spine are provided. For stabilizing the L5-S1 junction, the system includes a plate (7) that has a generally triangular shape with an upper node (8a) and a pair of lower nodes (9a, 10a). The upper node (8a) has a hole (8) through the plate (7) to receive a scr

Systems and methods for stabilizing the spine are provided. For stabilizing the L5-S1 junction, the system includes a plate (7) that has a generally triangular shape with an upper node (8a) and a pair of lower nodes (9a, 10a). The upper node (8a) has a hole (8) through the plate (7) to receive a screw (11) for passage into the L5 vertebra. The lower nodes (9a, 10a) each include a hole (9,10) through the plate (7) to receive screws (12, 13) for passage into the S1 vertebra. The system further includes a plate (7) having a retaining element (32) for preventing backout of screws inserted through the plate (9). Instruments and methods for attaching the plate to the spinal column are also provided.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A plating apparatus for the spine, comprising:a plate having a first hole alignable with an upper vertebra and a pair of second holes alignable with a lower vertebra and for receiving fasteners for engaging said plate to the lower vertebra, said plate having a first surface facing away from the u

1. A plating apparatus for the spine, comprising:a plate having a first hole alignable with an upper vertebra and a pair of second holes alignable with a lower vertebra and for receiving fasteners for engaging said plate to the lower vertebra, said plate having a first surface facing away from the upper and lower vertebrae when engaged thereto, said plate further including a support member on said first surface extending between said pair of second holes; a retaining element engageable to said plate with a second surface of said retaining element adjacent said first surface, said retaining element including an abutment portion on said second surface, wherein when engaged to said plate: said retaining element extends outwardly from said first surface and said support member of said plate in a direction opposite said first and second vertebrae; and said abutment portion is engageable with said support member to resist movement of said retaining element relative to said plate. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said retaining element includes a first posterior surface portion extending in a first direction from said abutment portion and a second posterior surface portion extending from said abutment portion in a second direction opposite said first direction, said first and second posterior surface portions lying in planes offset from one another.3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:said plate includes a generally triangular shape having an upper node and a pair of lower nodes; an upper hole in said plate at said upper node to receive a screw for passage into an L5 vertebra; and a first lower hole in said plate formed through one of said lower nodes to receive a screw for passage into the Si vertebra and a second lower hole in said plate through the other of said lower nodes to receive a screw for passage into the S1 vertebra. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plate has lateral edges extending between said upper node and each of said lower nodes, said lateral edges having a concave profile.5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plate has a posterior face positionable against the L5 vertebra and the S1 vertebra, said posterior face having a concave profile.6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said plate includes a protrusion extending from said posterior face adapted to contact the inferior margin of the L5 vertebra.7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support member is elongated transversely to a central axis of said plate and said abutment portion is elongated in a direction transverse to a central axis of said retaining element.8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said retaining element includes an extension portion extending from said abutment portion, said extension portion including a third surface offset from said second surface of said retaining element.9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a portion of said first surface is planar and said support member extends outwardly from said portion of said first surface away from said upper and lower vertebrae.10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plate has a central opening located between said first and second holes.11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a fastener for attaching said retaining element to said central opening.12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:said plate and said retaining element each have a generally triangular shape; said support member extends in the direction between adjacent lower vertices of the triangularly-shaped plate; and said abutment portion extends in the direction between adjacent lower vertices of the triangularly-shaped retaining element. 13. A plating apparatus for the spine, comprising:a plate having a generally triangular shape with an upper node positionable along an upper vertebra and a pair of lower nodes positionable along a lower vertebra; an upper hole in the plate at the upper node to receive a bone engaging fastener for engaging the upper vertebra; a first lower hole in the plate through one of the lower nodes to receive a bone engaging fastener for engaging the lower vertebra and a second lower hole in the plate through the other of the lower nodes to receive a bone engaging fastener for engaging the lower vertebra; and a retaining element engageable to said plate along a surface of said plate directed away from the upper and lower vertebrae and extending at least partially over each of said upper hole and said first and second lower holes, said surface of said plate including a support member and said retaining element including an abutment portion positionable against said support member, said support member and said abutment portion engage with one another to prevent said retaining element from rotating relative to said plate. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said support member is an elongated ridge extending from said surface of said plate away from said upper and lower vertebrae.15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said support member extends between said first lower hole and said second lower hole.16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said abutment portion is formed in a surface of said retaining element oriented toward said plate.17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said abutment portion extends between said first lower hole and said second lower hole when said retaining element is engaged to said plate.18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said retaining element includes an extension portion formed by a recess in said surface of said retaining element, said recess extending from an edge of said retaining element to said abutment portion.19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said retaining element includes a locking fastener extending therethrough and engageable to a central opening in said plate to secure said retaining element to said plate.20. A plating apparatus comprising:a bone plate having at least one opening for receiving a bone engaging fastener and at least one edge extending along an outer perimeter thereof, said at least one edge including a profile from a lower surface to an upper surface of said bone plate that tapers toward a center of said bone plate; and a retaining element engageable adjacent an upper surface of said bone plate and configured to extend at least partially over said at least one hole to prevent said bone engaging fastener from backing out relative to said plate, said retaining element including at least one edge substantially alignable with said at least one edge of said bone plate, said at least one edge forming an extension of said at least one edge of said bone plate and including a profile from a lower surface to an upper surface of said retaining element that tapers toward a center of said retaining element. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said bone plate and said retaining element each include three edges forming a triangular shape.22. A spinal fixation system, comprising:a plate having at least one first hole and at least one second hole therethrough between an upper surface of said plate and a lower surface of said plate, said first and second holes each sized to receive a bone screw to secure said plate to at least one vertebra; and a retaining element engageable to said plate and extending at least partially over each of said bone screws in said first hole and said second hole, said retaining element having at least first and second engagement members extending therefrom engageable with tool engaging recesses in corresponding ones said bone screws in each of said first and second holes below said upper surface of said plate to fix said bone screws relative to said plate. 23. The system of claim 22, wherein said at least one first hole is positionable over an upper vertebra and said at least one second hole is positionable over a lower vertebra.24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a third hole extending through said plate positionable over the lower vertebra and sized to receive a bone screw therethrough.25. The system of claim 24, wherein the upper vertebra is the L5 vertebra and the lower vertebra is the S1 vertebra.26. The system of claim 24, wherein said plate has a generally triangular shape and said retaining element has a generally triangular shape, said retaining element including a third engagement member engageable with a tool engaging recess of a bone screw in said third hole.27. The system of claim 26, wherein each of said engagement members includes a central protrusion positionable in said tool engaging recess of each of said bone screws and a recess extending around said central protrusion sized to receive a head of each of said bone screws.28. The system of claim 22, wherein each of said engagement members includes a central protrusion positionable in said tool engaging recess of each of said bone screws and a recess extending around said central protrusion sized to receive a head of each of said bone screws.29. The system of claim 22, further comprising a locking fastener to engage said retaining element to a threaded hole in said plate.30. The system of claim 22, wherein said retaining element has a lower surface positioned against said upper surface of said plate.31. The system of claim 30, wherein said retaining element extends above said upper surface of said plate.32. A system for stabilizing a spinal column segment, comprising:a plate having at least first and second holes for receiving first and second bone screws to attach said plate to at least one vertebra, said plate having a receptacle; a retaining element engageable to said plate, said retaining element having a receptacle; and an attachment instrument having a distal end coupled to said retaining element and having an extension extending through said receptacle of said retaining element and positionable in said receptacle of said plate with said retaining element in a desired orientation with respect to said plate, wherein said attachment instrument is operable to advance said retaining element along said extension in said desired oriented for engagement of said retaining element to said plate. 33. The system of claim 32, wherein said attachment instrument includes an inner member rotatably received in an outer shaft.34. The system of claim 33, wherein said outer shaft includes a foot extending laterally at said distal end of said attachment instrument and said extension extends distally from said foot.35. The system of claim 34, wherein said inner member includes driver at a distal end of said attachment instrument for engagement with a locking fastener extending through said retaining element, said locking fastener engageable with said plate to engage said retaining element thereto.36. The system of claim 32, wherein said first bone screw secures said plate to an upper vertebra and said second bone screw secures said plate to a lower vertebra.37. The system of claim 36, further comprising a third hole extending through said plate sized to receive a third bone screw to secure the plate to the lower vertebra.38. The system of claim 37, wherein the upper vertebra is the L5 vertebra and the lower vertebra is the S1 vertebra.39. The system of claim 37, wherein said plate has a generally triangular shape and said retaining element has a generally triangular shape.