Modular rod reduction tower and related methods

Abstract

A bone fixation system includes a bone fastener and a tower including a detachable distal section with a thread formed on an inner surface thereof, the tower having at least one flexible section and at least one rigid section to accommodate and/or mitigate tower interference and/or collision. The distal section can be detached from the tower to function as a head locking unit of the bone fixation assembly, with the detached distal section capable of accommodating set screws, fixation rods and/or other spinal hardware.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bone fixation system, comprising:
 a bone fastener having a shank;   a tower having at least one flexible section and at least one rigid section, the tower having a central opening extending longitudinally therethrough,   the tower comprising a first detachable portion section at a first end thereof, the first detachable portion having a distal opening sized to accommodate the shank of the bone fastener, the first detachable portion having a first threadform formed on an inner surface thereof; and   a set screw having an external set screw thread configured to mate with the first threadform.   
     
     
         2 . The bone fixation system of  claim 1 , wherein the bone fastener comprises a polyaxial pedicle screw having a head, with the shank extending from the head. 
     
     
         3 . The bone fixation system of  claim 1 , wherein the first detachable portion further comprises a cavity that receives and holds the head of the bone fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The bone fixation system of  claim 1 , wherein the first detachable portion further comprises a channel formed by a pair of upper inner walls. 
     
     
         5 . The bone fixation device of  claim 4 , further comprising a fastener connector having a portion that seats within the channel. 
     
     
         6 . The bone fixation system of  claim 1 , wherein the tower further comprises a pair of elongated walls separate by at least one channel, with at least one proximal bridge element extending over the bridge element between the elongated walls. 
     
     
         7 . A bone fixation system, comprising:
 a bone fastener having an externally threaded shank and a generally spherical head;   a tower having a tower body with at least one flexible section and at least one rigid section, at least a portion of the tower body including an internal tower thread;   a connection element attached to the tower body by a frangible linkage, the connection element having a distal opening sized to accommodate the shank of the bone fastener, the connection element further having an internal threadform formed on an inner surface therein; and   a set screw having an external set screw thread configured to mate with the internal threadform of the connection element.   
     
     
         8 . The bone fixation system of  claim 7 , wherein the bone fastener comprises a polyaxial pedicle screw, with the shank extending from the head. 
     
     
         9 . The bone fixation system of  claim 7 , wherein the connection element further comprises a cavity that receives and holds the head of the bone fastener. 
     
     
         10 . The bone fixation system of  claim 7 , wherein the connection element further comprises a channel formed by a pair of upper inner walls. 
     
     
         11 . The bone fixation device of  claim 10 , further comprising a fastener connector having a portion that seats within the channel. 
     
     
         12 . The bone fixation system of  claim 1 , wherein the tower further comprises a pair of elongated walls separate by at least one tower channel, with at least one proximal bridge element adjacent to the tower channel extending between the elongated walls.