Spinal correction system

A spinal correction system for a spine including longitudinally aligned vertebrae, the vertebrae having confronting endplate growth centers with predetermined thicknesses, a longitudinally extending span defined between the confronting endplate growth center thicknesses, and an intervening disk positioned intermediate the endplate growth centers, the vertebrae having predetermined transverse diameters, said system comprising:

• a bridge member having an upper surface, an opposed lower surface, a front side, an opposed back side, a left end, and an opposed right end, the length of said bridge member from said left end to said right end being substantially equal to the longitudinally extending span;
• a left fastener retaining portion extending from said bridge member left end, said left fastener retaining portion having front and back sides;
• a right fastener retaining portion extending from said bridge member right end, said right fastener retaining portion having front and back sides;
• and
• a threaded post extending from said bridge member upper surface.

A spinal correction system configured for use on a growing spine having abnormal curvature defining a convex side, the spine including a plurality of lengthwise adjoining vertebrae, the vertebrae including endplate growth centers with an intermediate portion therebetween, the vertebrae further having transverse diameters, the system comprising:

• a first bone engaging means configured to penetrate the convex side of an intermediate portion of a first vertebra to a depth of about one-half the diameter of the first vertebra;
• a second bone engaging means configured to penetrate the convex side of an intermediate portion of a second vertebra to a depth of less than one-half the diameter of the second vertebra;
• a bridge member rigidly connecting said first means and said second means;
• a threaded post extending from said bridge member an upper surface;
• and
• whereby said system corrects the abnormal curvature of the growing spine by inhibiting the growth of the endplate growth centers between said first and second bone engaging means on the convex side of the spine.

A spinal correction system comprising:

• a bridge member having an upper surface, an opposed lower surface, a front side, an opposite back side, a left end, and an opposed right end, said upper surface substantially planar in a direction from said left end to said right end, said upper surface convex in a direction from said front side to said back side, said lower surface concave in a direction from said left end to said right end;
• a pair of spaced apart legs extending from said lower surface at said left and right ends, each of said legs being substantially wedge-shaped, each of said legs having a width substantially equal to a width of said bridge member from said front side to said back side, each said leg having an outer surface and an opposed inner surface, said inner surfaces facing each other, each said leg having a front surface and an opposed back surface, each said leg having a plurality of barbs projecting from each of said outer, inner, front, and back surfaces, said inner surfaces of said legs angled away from each other from vertical;
• a left fastener retaining portion extending from said bridge member left end;
• a right fastener retaining portion extending from said bridge member right end;
• each of said fastener retaining portions defining a passageway therethrough adapted to receive a fastener therein, each of said fastener retaining portions adapted to guide a fastener in a direction substantially parallel to said legs, each of said fastener retaining portions having a plurality of projections extending from their lower surfaces;
• and
• a threaded post extending from said upper surface of said bridge member, said bridge member and said threaded post cooperating to define a passageway therethrough, said passageway coaxial with said threaded post, said threaded post facilitating the attachment of a cannulated removable impactor device.