Orthopedic implant rod reduction tool set and method

A method of percutaneously implanting a rod along a human spine by attaching the rod to individual vertebrae in a selected group of vertebrae comprising the steps of:

• a) forming an incision in a patient's skin generally above at least two of said selected vertebrae;
• b) inserting a polyaxial bone screw through each incision and implanting the bone screw in a respective vertebra;
• c) joining an end guide tool to each of a pair of end bone screws to be used in conjunction with a pair of vertebrae at opposite ends of said selected group of vertebrae wherein each of said end guide tools is provided with an elongate channel extending from a bottom of a respective end guide tool to a top thereof that is sized and shaped to receive an end of said rod;
• d) rotating said end guide tools such that said channels are facing each other;
• e) inserting said rod through one of said incisions so that each of said rod ends engages a respective channel;
• f) urging said rod along said channels to a bottom of the end guide tools and into heads of respective bone screw;
• and
• g) guiding a closure insertion tool into said elongate channel by one of an axial loading pathway and a sideways loading pathway and thereafter utilizing said insertion tool to insert a closure into a respective bone screw.

In a procedure for implanting a rod in a human spine by inserting bone screws into selected vertebrae and thereafter attaching the rod to the bone screws;

• said improvement comprising the steps of:
• a) providing an end guide tool for each bone screw at opposite ends of said selected vertebrae wherein each of said guide tools removably attaches to a respective bone screw and has an elongate channel that extends and opens outwardly along the entire length of the guide tool;
• said guide tool being sized and shaped to extend above the skin of the patient when the guide tool is attached to a respective bone screw with the bone screw located in a respective vertebra;
• b) aligning the channels in facing relationship;
• c) placing opposite ends of said rod in respective channels;
• d) urging said rod toward said bone screws utilizing said channels to guide the ends of said rod;
• and
• e) thereafter inserting a closure insertion tool into an upper end of said channel with a closure and thereafter utilizing said channel as a guide for placing the closure into a respective bone screw.

A method of percutaneously inserting a spinal rod into a pair of end bone screws comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a pair of end guide tools with each end guide tool having a side facing and rod receiving channel extending along the entire length thereof;
• b) inserting said guide tool through a patient's skin and in communication with each respective end bone screw;
• c) inserting a rod and directing opposite ends of the rod into said channels;
• d) guiding said rod ends in said channels to said bone screws;
• and
• e) guiding a closure insertion tool with a closure thereon along a respective channel from near a top thereof to a respective bone screw and thereafter inserting said closure into said bone screw.

A method of implanting a spinal rod in a patient comprising the steps of:

• a) making an incision in a patient;
• b) installing a bone screw in a vertebra of a patient through said incision;
• c) attaching a guide tool to said bone screw wherein said guide tool includes an outward opening elongate channel extending the entire length thereof;
• d) inserting one end of said rod in said channel and thereafter urging said rod toward said bone screw under guidance of said channel;
• e) securing said rod to said bone screw;
• f) side loading a closure insertion tool with a closure into said channel and guiding the closure to said bone screw utilizing said channel and thereafter joining said closure to said bone screw;
• and
• g) removing said guide.