A low-profile surgical implant assembly is provided that includes a
connector device that is an integral part of a rod, the connector device
allowing the rod to be attached directly to a bone screw, such as a
pedicle screw. Another aspect of the invention is a clamp device that
allows the length of a rod spanning to attachment devices to be adjusted
at the time of implantation, and further allows the clamp device to be
secured by tightening a securing end of the clamp at the attachment
device. The assemblies are useful for insertion into bone and connecting
a foreign object to bone via a polyaxial coupling mechanism. A method for
implanting the assembly is also provided.