Cervical spine stabilization method and system

A spine stabilization apparatus comprising:

• a longitudinal member including a longitudinal axis and being positionable along the spine;
• a first plate formed to include a first passage, the longitudinal member being fixed within the first passage to couple the first plate in a generally stationary position relative to the longitudinal member;
• a first fastener coupled to the first plate and formed to couple the first plate to the spine;
• a second plate formed to include a second passage, the longitudinal member being movable within the second passage to permit movement of the second plate alone the longitudinal axis relative to the first plate;
• and
• a second fastener coupled to the second plate and formed to couple the second plate to the spine, and the first fastener engages the longitudinal member in the first passage.

An apparatus for retaining first and second vertebrae of a spinal column in a desired spatial relationship, the apparatus comprising:

• a longitudinal member including a longitudinal axis and being positionable along the spinal column;
• a first plate coupled to the longitudinal member;
• a first fastener coupled to the first plate and formed to couple the first plate to the first vertebra, the first fastener engaging the longitudinal member;
• a second plate coupled to the longitudinal member and formed for movement relative to the first plate along the longitudinal axis;
• and
• a second fastener coupled to the second plate and formed to couple the second plate to the second vertebra.

An apparatus for retaining first and second vertebrae of a spinal column in a desired spatial relationship, the apparatus comprising:

• a longitudinal member including a longitudinal axis and being positionable along the spinal column;
• a first plate coupled to the longitudinal member;
• a first fastener coupled to the first plate and formed to couple the first plate to the first vertebra;
• a second plate coupled to the longitudinal member and formed for movement relative to the first plate along the longitudinal axis;
• and
• a second fastener coupled to the second plate and formed to couple the second plate to the second vertebra, and the first fastener includes a threaded end portion and a second end portion engaging the first plate and the second end portion of the first fastener engages the longitudinal member.

A spine stabilization apparatus comprising:

• non-threaded rods positioned to lie spaced-apart from one another, each rod including a longitudinal axis;
• a first plate formed to include first passages, the rods being fixed within the first passages respectively to couple the first plate in a generally stationary position relative to the rods;
• fasteners coupled to the first plate and formed to couple the first plate to the spine;
• a dynamic second plate formed to include second passages, the rods being movable within the second passages respectively to permit movement of the dynamic second plate along the longitudinal axis relative to the first plate when the dynamic second plate is coupled to the spine;
• and
• second fasteners coupled to the dynamic second plate and formed to couple the dynamic second plate to the spine.

A spine stabilization apparatus comprising:

• rods positioned to lie spaced-apart from one another, each rod including a longitudinal axis;
• a first plate formed to include first passages, the rods being fixed within the first passages respectively to couple the first plate in a generally stationary position relative to the rods;
• fasteners coupled to the first plate and formed to couple the first plate to the spine;
• a second plate formed to include second passages, the rods being movable within the second passages respectively to permit movement of the second plate along the longitudinal axis relative to the first plate;
• and
• second fasteners coupled to the second plate and formed to couple the second plate to the spine and the first fasteners extend into the first passages respectively and engage the rods.

A spine stabilization apparatus comprising:

• a non-threaded rod including a longitudinal axis and being positionable along the spine;
• a first plate including opposite ends and a first rod passage extending between the opposite ends, the rod being fixed within the first rod passage to couple the first plate in a generally stationary position relative to the rod;
• a first fastener coupled to the first plate and formed to couple the first plate to the spine;
• a dynamic second plate including opposite ends and a second rod passage extending between the opposite ends of the dynamic second plate, the rod being movable within the second rod passage to permit movement of the dynamic second plate along the longitudinal axis relative to the first plate when the dynamic second plate is coupled to the spine;
• and
• a second fastener coupled to the dynamic second plate and formed to couple the dynamic second plate to the spine.