Connector assembly with multidimensional accommodation and associated method

A connection assembly for connecting a bone engaging fastener to an elongate member, the assembly including:

• a fastener connector having a slot through which the fastener can extend to secure the fastener connector and fastener together, the slot being elongate to permit securing of the fastener at any of several locations along the slot;
• and
• a member connector having a portion to connect with the elongate member;
• the fastener connector and the member connector having a universal pivot interconnection there between to permit relative universal pivot adjustment movement.

A method of connecting a bone engaging fastener to an elongate member, the method including:

• connecting a fastener connector to the bone engaging fastener, the fastener connector having a first fastener connector portion for location adjacent to the bone and having an opening through which the fastener can extend and into the bone, and a second fastener connector portion having a part to engage a member connector, the step of connecting the fastener connector includes selecting a distance, to space the second fastener connector portion from the bone engaging fastener, from among a plurality of distance choices, and securing the fastener connector to the bone engaging fastener with the second fastener connector portion at the selected distance from the bone engaging fastener;
• connecting and securing a member connector, which has a portion to connect with the elongate member, to the elongate member;
• and
• connecting the fastener connector and the member connector, the fastener connector and the member connector have parts that engage each other to permit relative adjustment movement in at least two dimensions and to secure the member connector relative to the fastener connector subsequent to the adjustment, the step of connecting the fastener connector and the member connector includes relatively adjusting the fastener connector and the member connector in the at least two dimensions and securing the member connector relative to the fastener connector subsequent to the adjustment.