Appliance for correction of spinal curvatures

An improved appliance for correction of spinal curvatures in the course of placing a surgical strut in a patient's body comprising, a first elongated arm having a first end portion and a second end portion, said second end portion of said first arm comprising means for releasably securing said first arm to a vertebral bone hook, a second elongated arm having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first arm being pivotally connected to said second arm at a point on said first arm intermediate said first and second end portions of said first arm to a point on said second arm intermediate said first and second end portions of said second arm, said pivotal connection being such that when said arms are pivoted with respect to one another, the movement of both of said arms is parallel to a single plane, said pivotal connection further being such that when said first portions of said first and and second arms are moved away from one another, said second portions of said first and second arms move towards one another, said second end portion of said second arm including a recessed portion adapted to receive the end of a surgical strut and shaped to prevent movement of the strut through, along the length of and to the sides of the second arm, said recessed portion being positioned such that it faces and is aligned with said securing means of said second end portion of said first arm, and screw adjustment means provided on said first end portion of said second arm, cooperating with said first end portion of said first arm for urging said first end portions apart from one another.