| CPC A61B 17/7019 (2013.01) [A61B 17/7049 (2013.01); A61B 5/4566 (2013.01); A61B 17/7044 (2013.01); A61B 17/7053 (2013.01); A61F 2/4611 (2013.01)] | 18 Claims |

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1. A method of performing a spinal deformity correction for a plurality of vertebral bodies comprising:
inserting into each one of a plurality of vertebral bodies a staple having a ring and a plurality of prongs extending downwardly from the ring for engaging bone;
for each staple, inserting through the staple a threaded shaft of a bone screw into a respective vertebral body, each bone screw having a threaded head extending upwardly from the threaded shaft;
placing a flexible tensioning line in a flexible tube extending from a tensioner having a pair of handles, wherein the flexible tensioning line includes a flexible cord to be placed in the threaded heads of the inserted bone screws and a flexible threaded shaft coupled to the cord, and placing a flexible tensioning line in a flexible tube comprises inserting the flexible threaded shaft into the flexible tube;
for one of the inserted bone screw, placing the distal end of the flexible tube near the one inserted bone screw;
squeezing the handles of the tensioner towards each other to apply a compressive force to the flexible tensioning line until an appropriate tensioning force is achieved;
when the appropriate tensioning force is achieved, tightening a threaded locking cap in the threaded head of the one inserted bone screw to lock the flexible tensioning line to the one inserted bone screw.
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