Bottom loading low profile fixation system

An orthopedic kit for stabilizing bones comprising:

• at least one bone screw having a first end and a second end, said first end constructed and arranged as a shank portion for penetrating securement to a bone, said second end constructed and arranged as a head portion;
• a connector for securing a rod to a plurality of anchored bone screws, said connector formed from a clamp universally connected to said head portion of each said anchored bone screw for securing said anchored bone screw to a rod, said clamp having an elongated body with an exterior wall with an annular bulge and a second bulge distal to said annular bulge for receipt of said head portion of said bone screw head, a rod slot extending across said exterior wall constructed and arranged to slidably accept said rod and a compression ring surrounding said exterior wall of said clamp, said compression ring linearly traversable along said exterior wall between a first position and a second position by a force consisting of a linear force along a longitudinal axis of said clamp, said first position permitting adjustment of said rod, said second position compressing said clamp to immobilize said rod with respect to said bone screw;
• whereby traversal of said compression ring from said first position to said second position causes said compression ring to cooperate with said annular bulge to apply concurrent compressive forces to said clamp to simultaneously immobilize movement between said clamp and said rod and said clamp and said anchored bone screw.

A method of using an orthopedic device to stabilize bones across a discontinuity, comprising:

• providing at least two bone screws having a threaded shaft and a spherical head;
• anchoring said bone screws into a bone by rotation of each screw into bone;
• providing a connector having a clamp body and a compression ring, said clamp body having a spherical head receptacle at one end and a rod slot at an opposing end, the receptacle sized to accommodate the head of the bone screw, the compression ring having an exterior wall movable along an exterior wall of the clamp body between an open position and a closed position, the compression ring including an annular flange at the upper edge thereof, the open position defined when the first compression ring is adjacent the receptacle such that the bone screw is pivotable relative to the clamp body;
• placing a rod member in the rod slot whereby the rod member extends across a discontinuity;
• and
• repositioning the first compression ring from its open position to its closed position by applying a linear force along the longitudinal centerline of said clamp for traversing said compression ring to a closed position along said exterior wall of said clamp member to compress said clamp body to substantially fix said clamp member and said rod member in a predetermined orientation with respect to the anchored bone screw whereby said bones are stabilized across said discontinuity.