Methods and apparatus for treating spondylolysis

Abstract

For treating a fracture in a pars interarticularis, methods and apparatus provide for: (i) coupling a spinous process plate to a lateral side of a spinous process of a spine of a patient, the spinous process plate extending substantially parallel to a sagittal plane through the spine, the spinous process plate including a first fixation element configured to attach the spinous process plate to the lateral side; (ii) coupling a laminar plate to a laminar on the lateral side, the laminar plate extending transversely from the spinous process plate and transversely to both the sagittal plane and a coronal plane through the spine, the laminar plate including a second fixation element configured to attach the laminar plate to the laminar on the lateral side; (iii) engaging a sub-laminar hook to the laminar on the lateral side, the sub-laminar hook extending transversely from the laminar plate and substantially parallel to a transverse plane through the spine, the sub-laminar hook configured to extend and hook beneath the laminar on the lateral side; (iv) extending a rod toward a pedicle on the lateral side, the rod having proximal and distal ends and extending substantially perpendicular to a length of the fracture, from the laminar plate toward the pedicle; and (v) anchoring the rod in a configuration that prohibits movement of first and second parts of the fractured pars interarticularis relative to one another, by coupling the proximal end to the laminar plate, and the distal end to the pedicle on the lateral side.