Surgical Fixation System and Related Methods

A method for performing spinal fixation surgery, comprising the steps of:

• (a) accessing surgical target site, the surgical target site comprising an occiput and at least one vertebra;
• (b) providing a bone plate, the bone plate including:
• a body portion having a shape suitable for placement against a bony segment, the body portion having a first lateral side, a second lateral side, and a medial axis bisecting the plate between the first and second lateral sides, the body portion having a first bone contacting surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the body portion further having a plurality of openings extending between the first and second surfaces, each opening configured to receive an anchor element,
• a clamp member extending laterally from one of the first and second lateral sides, the clamp member having a rod receiving portion and an aperture extending through the clamp member in communication with the rod receiving portion, the aperture configured to receive a locking element to lock a spinal rod within the rod receiving portion, the aperture angularly offset relative to an axis extending through the clamp member and perpendicular to the first bone contacting surface, and
• a visual indicator of the direction of the angular offset;
• (c) placing the bone plate against an occiput bone of a human skull such that the visual indicator of the direction of angular offset indicates that the angular offset is oriented in a cranial direction;
• (d) inserting a plurality of anchor elements through the openings to secure the bone plate to the occiput bone;
• (e) providing a polyaxial bone screw having an anchor member and a receiving member, the anchor member mating with the receiving member such that the anchor member exhibits a biased angulation, each polyaxial bone screw further comprising a visual indicator of the direction of the biased angulation,
• (f) inserting the polyaxial bone screw into a bone such that the visual indicator of the direction of the biased angulation indicates that the biased angulation is oriented in a cranial direction;
• and
• (g) inserting a spinal rod such that a first portion of the spinal rod is received within the clamp member of the bone plate and a second portion of the spinal rod is received within the receiving member of the polyaxial bone screw.