US Patent 8974500 Adjustable rod assembly

An adjustable rod for spinal corrective surgery is provided that includes a first elongate member and a second elongate member, each having rod portions couplable to one or more bone connecting elements and expansion portions slidably moveable with respect to one another. A plurality of holes in each expansion portion are alignable with one another to choose the length of the adjustable rod and a locking element is inserted through a pair of aligned holes to couple the first and second elongate members and secure or fix the length of the expandable rod.