POSTERIOR SPINAL PROSTHESIS

摘要

A posterior spinal prosthesis is configured to cover exposed portions of a spinal column especially, but not necessarily, as a result of a medical procedure and particularly, as a result of the removal the spinous processes and/or the spinous process and laminar hoods from the one or more vertebrae. A plate forming the prosthesis is connectable to spine rod constructs implanted on lateral sides of the vertebrae and projects in the posterior direction relative to the connection. The plate is generally curved in the superior/inferior direction to provide either a lordotic or kyphotic curvature depending on the portion of the spine to which the prosthesis is utilized. As such, the posterior spinal prosthesis may be used on any portion of the spine such as the cervical vertebrae, the thoracic vertebrae and/or the lumbar vertebrae. The present posterior spinal prosthesis also provides posterior stabilization of the associated vertebrae.