A supplemental spine fixation device and method is used in association
with a primary spine fixation device. The supplemental spine fixation
device includes a guide and spacer for distracting apart adjacent spinous
processes and the device has hook members which hook about the first and
second spinous processes. With the spinous processes distracted and the
hook members about the spinous processes, the hook members can be rigidly
secured to a hub in order to rigidly affix the spinous processes about
the spacer. The rigidity between the spinous processes assures that the
vertebral bodies will be held rigidly in place in order to promote bone
growth and fusion. Further additional freedom of movement between the
spacer and hub is accomplished with the spacer being pivotably mounted
relative to the hub. The hooks have a tissue distracting lead-in guide
for allowing the hooks to be easily urged between spinous processes.