| CPC A61B 17/7032 (2013.01) [A61B 6/505 (2013.01); A61B 17/0218 (2013.01); A61B 17/025 (2013.01); A61B 17/7001 (2013.01); A61B 17/7014 (2013.01); A61B 17/7022 (2013.01); A61B 34/20 (2016.02); A61B 90/37 (2016.02); A61B 2017/0256 (2013.01); A61B 17/3211 (2013.01); A61B 2017/565 (2013.01); A61B 2017/681 (2013.01); A61B 17/7044 (2013.01); A61B 2034/2068 (2016.02); A61B 2090/376 (2016.02)] | 6 Claims |

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1. An improved method of performing spinal correction surgery on a patient in which a plurality of vertebrae are adjusted with respect to each other, comprising the steps of:
creating a vertical mini-opening in a side of the patient to enable the surgeon to access directly the plurality of the vertebrae without use of a portal;
inserting, via the mini-opening, an anchor screw into a side of each of the plurality of vertebrae being operated on, each anchor screw comprising a channel suitable for accepting a flexible tensioning cord, so that a single row of anchor screws is formed along the side of the vertebrae, wherein a subset of the plurality of the single row of anchor screws are located along a vertical center line of the side of the vertebrae and another subset of the plurality of the single row of anchor screws are offset horizontally from the vertical center line of the side of the vertebrae;
disposing, via the mini-opening, a flexible tensioning cord within the channels of the single row of anchor screws to enable an adjustment procedure on the plurality of vertebrae; and
performing a vertebrae adjustment procedure which each of the plurality of vertebrae is adjusted with respect to at least one other vertebra and the flexible tensioning cord is secured within the channel of the corresponding anchor screw of the adjusted vertebra in order to maintain the adjustment of the vertebrae.
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