REPLACEMENT FACET JOINT AND METHOD

摘要

Prostheses and methods for repair of cervical fact joints. In one aspect, the articulating surfaces of the natural facets of a facet joint are removed only a sufficient amount to allow the insertion of flat or slightly curvilinear portions of protheses therebetween in an overlapping relationship. The portions are so inserted and the prostheses mounted by attachment to adjacent vertebrae. Also, a single natural facet may be similarly repaired with a single prosthesis. In another aspect, the invention provides a single prosthesis that is useful in repairing articulating surfaces in more than one cervical facet joint.