Surgical tether apparatus and methods of use

Abstract

A spinal treatment system includes a constraint device having an upper tether portion, a lower tether portion and a compliance member coupled therebetween. The upper tether portion is coupled with a superior spinous process of a spinal segment in a patient and the lower tether portion is coupled with an inferior spinous process or sacrum of the spinal segment. The length or tension in the constraint device is adjustable so that the construct of the tether portions and the compliance member provides a force resistant to flexion of the spinal segment. The system also includes a first prosthesis coupled with the spinal segment, wherein the constraint device modulates loads borne by the prosthesis or by tissue adjacent thereto.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for treating a spinal segment in a patient, the spinal segment having a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra, said system comprising:
 spinal fusion instrumentation configured to be coupled to the spinal segment; and   a constraint device configured to be implanted in the patient, the constraint device comprising an upper tether portion, a lower tether portion, and a compliance member disposed therebetween,   wherein one of the upper tether portion or the lower tether portion is configured to be coupled to a spinous process of a third vertebra adjacent the spinal segment or to an adjacent sacrum,   wherein the other of the upper tether portion or the lower tether portion is configured to be coupled to a spinous process of the spinal segment or to the spinal fusion instrumentation, and   wherein the constraint device is adjustable to provide an adjustable elastic force resistant to flexion of the spinal segment.