System for inserting and removing a locator-pin in a bone

A method for recovering a positioned locator-pin (110-210) from a patient, wherein the locator-pin (110-210) comprises a smooth pin body (112), a distal portion comprising a smooth trocar tip (114) shaped to penetrate a bone by pressing and/or percussing, and a proximal portion (116) equipped with a first fixing member (118) to fix, during use, to an insertion pin-carrier (120) equipped with a fixing member (121) complementary to the first fixing member (118) of the locator-pin and a second fixing member (119) to fix, during use, to a removal pin-carrier (130), the two fixing members (118, 119) being different, wherein the first fixing member (118) is able to transmit at least an axial push parallel to an axis of a locator-pin, and the second fixing member (119) is able to transmit at least an axial draw parallel to the axis of the locator-pin and at least one sense of rotation around the axis of the locator-pin, the method comprising:

• providing a removal pin-carrier (130) equipped with a fixing member (131) complementary to the second fixing member (119) of the locator-pin,
• making an incision to disengage a proximal portion (116, 216) of the positioned locator-pin,
• providing a guide cannula (140) designed to receive freely sliding the locator-pin (110), the insertion pin-carrier (120) and the removal pin-carrier (130), and reinserting the guide cannula (140),
• encasing the locator-pin and following its path into the pedicle of vertebra O, introducing the removal pin-carrier (130) into the guide cannula (140) and screwing onto a threaded portion (119) of the locator-pin (110) to secure the locator-pin and removing the locator-pin through the guide cannula (140), which is left in place.