Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/CA2437575C/en
Timestamp: 2019-10-14 04:39:47
Document Index: 289414573

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 130', 'art 130', 'art 150', 'art 130', 'art 150', 'art 130', 'art 130', 'art 150', 'arts 130', 'arts 130', 'arts 130', 'arts 130', 'arts 130', 'art 130', 'art 150']

CA2437575C - Method and device for treating abnormal curvature of the spine - Google Patents
Method and device for treating abnormal curvature of the spine Download PDF
CA2437575C
CA2437575C CA 2437575 CA2437575A CA2437575C CA 2437575 C CA2437575 C CA 2437575C CA 2437575 CA2437575 CA 2437575 CA 2437575 A CA2437575 A CA 2437575A CA 2437575 C CA2437575 C CA 2437575C
shim portion
CA 2437575
CA2437575A1 (en
2001-02-16 Priority to US60/268,860 priority
2002-02-15 Priority to PCT/CA2002/000193 priority patent/WO2002065954A1/en
2002-08-29 Publication of CA2437575A1 publication Critical patent/CA2437575A1/en
2009-04-07 Publication of CA2437575C publication Critical patent/CA2437575C/en
206010023506 Kyphoscoliosis Diseases 0 description 2
206010023509 Kyphosis Diseases 0 description 5
206010039722 Scoliosis Diseases 0 abstract description 41
210000002517 Zygapophyseal Joint Anatomy 0 abstract claims description 78
230000002159 abnormal effects Effects 0 claims description title 9
This invention relates to a spinal facet cap for treating scoliosis, the facet cap comprising a shim portion for inserting into a facet joint of a spine, and an alignment portion for maintaining alignment of the shim portion within the facet joint. The invention also provides a method for treating scoliosis, comprising implanting at least one spinal facet into at least one facet joint of a subject in need thereof.
Method and Device for Treating Abnormal Curvature of the Spine Background of the Invention Scoliosis is an orthopaedic condition characterized by abnormal curvature of the spine, with varying degrees of lateral curvature, lordosis and rotation.
Despite extensive research, the pathogenesis of scoliosis remains obscure in the majority of cases.
The vertebral column is composed of vertebra, discs, ligaments and muscles.
Its function is to provide both mobility and stability of the torso. Mobility includes rotation, lateral bending, extension and flexion. Scoliotic curvature is associated with pathologic changes in the vertebra and related structures. Vertebral bodies become wedge-shaped, pedicles and laminas become shorter and thinner on the concave aspect of the curve. Apart from the obvious physical deformity, cardiopulmonary problems may also present. As curvature increases, rotation also progresses causing narrowing of the chest cavity. In severe deformities, premature death is usually caused by respiratory disease and superimposed pneumonia.
Treatment options have varied little over the past few decades, and only two treatments effectively help correct scoliosis: spinal bracing with exercises and surgery.
A properly constructed Milwaukee or low-profile brace will aid some patients with minor scoliosis. However, if the scoliosis progresses despite such bracing, or if there is substantial discomfort, surgical correction involving fusion of vertebra may be required.
Surgery has traditionally involved procedures such as the Harrington, Dwyer and Zielke, and Luque procedures which rely on implanted rods, laminar/pedicle hooks, and screws to maintain the correction until stabilized by fusion of vertebrae.
3. Spinal instrumentation is applied. A distraction rod allows the spine to be `jacked' up on the concave side of the curve. A compression assembly may be used on the convex side of the curve to `pull' the curve straight.
Anchors, laminar hooks, and/or wires are placed around the lamina to provide fixation for the rods.
Yet other surgical procedures involve memory metal implants (Sanders, A
Memory Metal Based Scoliosis Correction System, CIP-Data Koninklijke Bibliotheek, Den Haag, 1993), fusion of vertebra anteriorly, using anterior cages (e.g., Harms cage, from DePuy-AcroMed Inc.). Nevertheless, it is clear that available procedures have drawbacks including the requirement for substantial prosthetic implants (see Mohaideen et al., Pediatr. Radiol. 30:110-118 (2000) for a review) and complicated surgical procedures, often only partly correct scoliotic deformities, and result in reduced flexibility of the spine.
Figure 1 shows a posterior view of a typical scoliotic spine;
Figure 2 shows a posterior view of a scoliotic spine corrected with spinal facet caps according to the invention;
Figures 3A to 3F show further embodiments of a spinal facet cap according to the invention;
Figures 4A to 4C show a further embodiment of a spinal facet cap according to the invention;
Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of a spinal facet cap according to the invention;
Figure 6A shows a posterior view of a scoliotic spine;
Figure 6B shows a posterior view of the scoliotic spine of Figure 5A corrected with spinal facet caps according to the invention; and Figure 7A shows a side view of a scoliotic spine; and Figure 7B shows a side view of the scoliotic spine of Figure 7A corrected with spinal facet caps according to the invention;
Figure 8A is a radiograph of a prosthetic model of a spine with scoliosis at the mid-lumbar level;
Figure 8B is a radiograph of the model of Figure 8A, with the scoliosis corrected using spinal facet caps of the invention;
Figures 9A and 9B show embodiments of a facet caps according to the invention; and Figures 10A and 10B are photographs showing the facet caps of Figures 9A and 9B, respectively, inserted into facet joints of a patient.
After the curve is identified, all posterior ligaments and facet joints are destroyed by decortication and cartilage is removed at each level of fusion.
Instrumentation for correction of the scoliosis is placed in such a manner to apply a distractive force on the concavity of the curve and compression on the convexity of the curve. All current systems rely on some vertebral fixation to a rod. Compressive and distractive forces are then applied along the rod at the points of vertebrae to rod fixation.
Three forms of fixation of the posterior spine are currently available:
pedicle/laminar hooks, wires and screws. Laminar hooks are placed around vertebrae lamina. Distractive hooks are placed pointing away from the apex of the curve and compressive hooks placed facing towards the apex of the curve. Pedicle screws are placed posterior to anterior in the vertebrae and can either have a distractive or compressive force applied through the rod. Laminar wires wrap around the lamina and connect to a rod at each level. The corrective force is applied as the wire tightens around a rigid rod. The lamina and thus the vertebrae are dragged to the rod.
The spinal facet cap of the invention differs from the above-described standard instrumentation in a number of ways. For example, as discussed above, during standard procedures for correcting scoliosis, facet joints are generally destroyed. In contrast, the spinal facet caps of the invention require that the facet joints are substantially or entirely intact. This procedure is thus expected to preserve mobility of the facet joint. Further, rather than applying a distractive or compressive force through a rod, the facet cap effectively reshapes the facet joint. Such reshaping affords symmetry between left and right facet joints which corrects abnormal curvature. Thus, no fixation of the vertebrae is required; rather, there is modulation of the vertebral (facet) shape. This reshaping is expected to allow for the omission of fusing the intervening vertebral levels and multiple levels of vertebrae, which is the result of rod fixation, thus preserving flexibility of the spine. Also, the use of conventional instrumentation with a rod concentrates the load (i.e., weight of the torso) on the portion of the spine to which the rod is attached, as well as on the rod itself. The resulting stress sometimes results in failure of the conventional instrumentation. In contrast, in providing for the correction of individual facet joints of the spine, the facet cap of the invention maintains the natural load distribution along the spine.
Accordingly, there is no load concentration at any point of the spine, and low likelihood of failure of the implanted facet cap.
As used herein, the term "scoliosis" is intended to mean any abnormal curvature of the spine. Such abnormal curvature can exist in any one of all three planes, or in any combination thereof, and hence can be manifested by inappropriate lateral curvature, lordosis, kyphosis, and/or rotation. Scoliosis can be congenital or idiopathic, or induced by injury, trauma, infection, inflammation, or degenerative changes in the spine.
As used herein, the term "treating scoliosis" is intended to mean correcting or reducing curvature of the spine of a subject, such that the subject experiences an improvement in condition, comfort (e.g., reduction or amelioration of pain), appearance, posture, and/or flexibility of the spine. The term "treating scoliosis" is also intended to mean preventing scoliosis from progressing to a more severe state, or inhibiting the degree to which scoliosis progresses.
As used herein, the term "subject" is intended to mean any vertebrate that can have scoliosis. Typically, such subjects are primates. Preferably, the subject is human.
According to one theory, many forms of scoliosis result from asymmetry between left and right facet joints of vertebrae. According to another theory, many forms of sco(iosis cause asymmetry between left and right facet joints of vertebrae.
While not holding to one particular theory at the exclusion of others, the present invention provides for the treatment of scoliosis by substantially or completely correcting such asymmetry.
In one aspect, the invention provides a prosthetic device for treating scoliosis by substantially or completely correcting asymmetry between left and right facet joints of vertebrae. The prosthetic device, generally referred to as a spinal facet cap, is surgically implanted into a spinal facet joint at any level in the spine.
Surgically implanting one or more spinal facet cap(s) is carried out with minimal or no modification of the facet joint(s) involved; thus, the invention provides for the correction of left-right asymmetry of facet joints while preserving the facet joints. In this respect the invention is unlike any known procedures for treating scoliosis.
Figure 1 shows a posterior view of a typical scoliotic spine, with asymmetry between left and right facet joints, and spinal curvature convex left. Figure 2 shows the spine of Figure 1 in which the asymmetry between left and right facet joints has been corrected with two spinal facet caps according to an embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen in Figure 2, a spinal facet cap 10 according to the invention comprises a shim portion 12 which is implanted between the superior facet 22 of a first (lower) vertebra 20 and the corresponding inferior facet 32 of a second overlying vertebra 30. The shim portion has two opposed surfaces, a first (lower) surface 14 engaging the superior articular surface of the superior facet 22, and a second (upper) surface 16 engaging the inferior articular surface of the corresponding inferior facet 32.
The opposed surfaces of the shim portion of the spinal facet cap can be substantially planar, as shown in Figure 2, or they can be formed (e.g., concave or convex) to receive and at least partially complement or parallel superior and inferior facet contours.
From Figure 2 it will be appreciated that the shim portion of the spinal facet cap must be properly aligned or positioned in the facet joint, and that this alignment must be maintained. An alignment portion is provided for this purpose. The alignment portion can be provided numerous ways in accordance with the invention. For example, the alignment portion can comprise an extension or tongue 18, having an orifice 19, to accept a screw or the like which is driven into the cortex of the vertebral pedicle. The alignment portion can also comprise one or more facet hooks and/or a ridge or boss disposed along the perimeter or margin of the shim portion, to engage the superior and/or inferior facets. The alignment portion at least partially encompasses the superior and/or inferior facet(s).
In some embodiments, the opposed surfaces are parallel (i.e., coplanar), such that the shim portion is of substantially uniform thickness. In other embodiments, the opposed surfaces are not coplanar, such that the shim portion is not of uniform thickness and is generally wedge-shaped. In embodiments where the opposed surfaces are not coplanar, the surfaces can be sloped along a common axis so as to form a simple angle. The angle separating the opposed surfaces can be, for example, from 0 (coplanar) to about 40 , preferably about 0 to about 20 . In other embodiments, the slopes of the opposed surfaces form a compound angle in which the slopes are not aligned on a common axis. It will be appreciated.that the direction of slope is appropriately chosen to correct a facet joint for a given abnormality of curvature (e.g., kyphosis, lordosis, etc.).
It will be appreciated that patients receiving facet caps can vary in age/size, and in degree of severity of scoliosis. Thus, the present invention contemplates a range of sizes and shapes of facet caps, to suit any facet joint in need of treatment, so as to correct any or all of a reduction in height, an abnormality in tilt, and an abnormality in angulation (e.g., kyphosis, Iordosis) of the inferior or superior vertebral body. The facet .40 caps can be provided ready for implanting (e.g., sterilized and appropriately packaged), or they can be sterilized prior to implanting using methods well-known in the art.
Several embodiments of the spinal facet cap of the present invention are shown in Figure 3. For example, Figure 3A shows a spinal facet cap like that shown in Figure 2. In Figure 3B, the shim portion 50 has an alignment portion comprising a ridge 54 disposed along the edge of and partially surrounding the surface 56 that engages the inferior facet, toward the tongue 52. As shown in Figures 3C and 3D, in which Figure 3D shows a longitudinal section of the embodiment of Figure 3C, the shim portion 60 similarly has an alignment portion comprising a ridge 68 on the edge of the surface 67 that engages the superior facet, opposite the tongue 62. The embodiment of Figures 3C and 3D also has a further ridge 64 on the edge of the surface 66 that engages the inferior facet, toward the tongue 62. It will be appreciated that the provision of an alignment portion comprising ridges on the first, second, or both surfaces of the facet cap helps to maintain alignment of the facet cap with the superior and inferior facets, and helps to keep the facet cap registered in the facet joint.
The alignment portion of a spinal facet cap according to the invention can also comprise one or more pins extending outwardly from at least one of the two opposed surfaces. For example, the spinal facet cap 70 shown in Figure 3E has pins 72, extending outwardly from the opposed surfaces 73, 75, respectively. The pins 72, 74 engage holes prepared in the articular surfaces of the superior and inferior facets during the implant procedure.
In Figure 3F there is shown another embodiment of a spinal facet cap according to the invention in which the shim portion 80 has an alignment portion comprising a facet hook 88 on the edge of the surface 87 that engages the superior facet, substantially opposite the tongue 82, and another facet hook 84 on the edge of the surface 86 that engages the inferior facet, toward the tongue 82. In further embodiments, only one of either facet hook 84 or facet hook 88 is present. The facet hook can vary in the extent of the curvature of the hook and thus the extent to which the hook encompasses the inferior/superior facet. For example, in some embodiments the curvature of the facet hook can be reduced so that the hook extends from the shim portion in a 90 arc, whereas in other embodiments the hook extends from the shim portion in a 180 arc.
Although not shown in the drawings, it will be appreciated that embodiments of the invention such as those shown in Figures 3A to 3D and 3F can be provided with an orifice passing through the shim portion, for accepting a pin, screw, or the like driven through at least one of the inferior and superior facets, to thereby contribute to maintaining alignment of the spinal facet cap. In particular, in the embodiment of Figure 3F, each of the facet hook 84, shim portion 80, and facet hook 88 can be provided with an orifice, the three orifices having a common longitudinal axis, so as to accommodate a pin or screw disposed through the facet hook 84, the inferior facet, the shim portion 80, the superior facet, and the facet hook 88. Also not shown in the figures are embodiments in which the shim portion is sloped in the opposite direction to that shown (i.e., a directive relative to the tongue 18 in Figure 3A).
In the embodiment shown in Figures 4A to 4C, which is similar to that of Figure 3F, the spinal facet cap 90 has a shim portion 92 with opposed surfaces 94, 96 provided with an alignment portion comprising facet hooks 95, 97, respectively, and a tongue 98. Tongue 98 extends outwardly from the shim portion 92, and has an orifice 99 for accepting a screw. Facet hook 95 engages the inferior facet, and facet hook 97 engages the superior facet. This can be seen in Figure 6, which shows a scoliotic spine (Figure 6A) in which the decrease in height and lateral tilt of the spine have been corrected with spinal facet caps according to the present embodiment (Figure 6B). A
handle 100 is optionally provided to facilitate implanting the facet cap. The handle 100 is attached to the facet cap in a manner to allow it to be removed upon implanting the cap. For example, the handle 100 can be crimped at the junction with the facet cap, so that it can simply be broken off once the facet cap is implanted.
It will be appreciated that the embodiment shown in Figure 4 can be provided with only a single facet hook, in which case it is preferable that the facet hook 95 that engages the inferior facet is provided. However, the provision of two facet hooks 95 and 97 improves the stability of the implant. Also, the facet hooks can be wider or narrower than those shown in Figure 4. A wider facet hook has the advantage of contacting more of the facet, and hence is preferable. When a very wide facet hook is provided, it can be curved so as to approximate the shape of the portion of the facet that it contacts, and hence contact a greater portion of the facet. As an alternative to a wide facet hook, a facet hook can comprise two or more fingers, the fingers providing multiple points of contact with a facet. An advantage of such fingers is that growth of tissue around and between the fingersis possible, and such growth improves the stability and reliability of the implant.
In a further embodiment, the distance between facet hooks, and/or the angle of the shim portion (i.e., the extent to which the shim portion is wedge-shaped) can be adjusted. An example of this embodiment is shown in Figure 5. Figure 5A shows this embodiment, denoted by reference numeral 120, in side and plan views, which comprises two parts 130 and 150. Figure 5B shows part 130 in side and plan views, and Figure 5C shows part 150 in side and plan views. Part 130 comprises a plate 134, an inferior facet hook 132 disposed on a first surface of the plate 134, and a tongue 140 and two rows of teeth 138 disposed on the opposite surface of the plate 134.
An orifice 136 accomodates a cortical screw (not shown). Part 150 comprises a plate 154, a superior facet hook 152 disposed on a first surface of the plate 154, and two rows of teeth 158 disposed on the opposite surface of the plate 154. A longitudinal opening 156 is provided in the plate 154, for accepting the tongue 140 of part 130 in a sliding fit.
As can be seen from Figure 5A, part 130 mates with part 150 such that tongue 140 fits in opening 156 and teeth 138 mesh with teeth 158, and the inferior and superior facet hooks 132 and 152 are opposed. When mated, plates 134 and 154 comprise the shim portion. Preferably, the teeth comprising each set of teeth 138 and 158 are asymmetrical, such that meshing of the two sets of teeth forms a rachet that allows parts 130 and 150 to slide relative to each other in one direction, but not the other.
Preferably, such rachet allows parts 130 and 150 to slide in a direction which brings the inferior and superior facet hooks closer together, and prevents the facet hooks from sliding farther apart. Thus, to use this embodiment to correct a facet joint, parts 130 and 150 are first mated such that the facet hooks are farthest apart, and the so-assembled facet cap is inserted into a facet joint of a patient. The distance between the facet hooks is then reduced by sliding parts 130 and 150 together, to fit the facet joint being corrected and to provide the desired amount of correction. In variations of this embodiment, either or both of plates 134 and 154 can be wedge-shaped, so that as parts 130 and 150 slide relative to each other, the amount of shim provided to a facet joint can be adjusted. Further, such wedge-shape of part 130 and/or part 150 can be tapered in any direction relative to the facet hook, so as to provide correction for any type of facet joint asymmetry (e.g., lordosis, kyphosis,etc.). It will be appreciated that the facet hooks in this embodiment could be substituted for ridges, bosses, etc, as discussed in respect of the alignment portion of the above embodiments.
Figure 7A shows a side view of a scoliotic spine with pronounced lordosis. In Figure 7B, the scoliosis shown in Figure 7A has been corrected by inserting spinal facet caps 90 between facet joints. Here, spinal facet caps according to the embodiment shown in Figure 3F or Figure 4 are employed.
Working Examples Example 1: Cadaveric implantation A spinal facet cap based on the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3A, having a diameter of about 12 mm, was surgically implanted into the scoliotic spine of a cadaver (female, elderly) at the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, to evaluate the ease or difficulty of placement and the seating of the facet cap in the facet joint., There were no complications in implanting the facet cap into the spine, suggesting that use of the facet cap for treating scoliosis could become a routine surgical procedure. Moreover, during this exercise it was found that seating of the facet cap in the facet joint was fully satisfactory. This exercise therefore provides a strong indication that the spinal facet cap of the invention will be effective in the treatment of scoliosis.
Example 2: Prosthetic model Osteotomies were performed on the mid-lumbar facets of a prosthetic model of an adult human spine to create a scoliotic model. This is shown in the radiograph of Figure 8A, where reference numeral 200 refers to pins used to hold the model together.
Spinal facet caps like that shown in Figure 3F were then inserted into the mid-lumbar facet joints, which substantially corrected the scoliotic curvature of the spine. This can be seen in the radiograph of Figure 8B, where reference numeral 210 refers to the facet caps.
Example 3: Formulation of in vivo placement The success of cadaveric implantation led to the formulation of tempo in vivo application. During the course of standard scoliosis surgery, all facet joints from the superior to inferior aspect of the proposed fusion levels are stripped of the joint capsule, the cartilage removed, and the joint decorticated. Prior to destruction of the joints an in vivo model for facet cap placement is present, as no further dissection of the spine is necessary, in which the facet caps can be placed and removed in minutes. This has allowed the formulation of a working model for application of the facet caps.
Thus, the below examples relate to the temporary insertion of facet caps during the course of standard corrective surgery, to establish an operative technique for their insertion, and to evaluate their efficacy and ease of use.
Example 4: Operative technique Pre-operative Pre-operative planning is based on the standard standing radiograph of the spine. The most accessible inferior vertebral body demonstrating tilting relative to pelvis is identified. The inferior tilting of the vertebra is measured to determine the appropriate thickness of the shim portion and distance between facet hooks of the facet cap. The next superior adjacent facet may also be targeted as a sight for correction.
More superiously in the spine the apex of the scoliotic curve is identified. A
measurement of the interior tilt of this vertebra is obtained along the concave aspect of the scoliotic curvature. A facet cap having a shim of appropriate thickness and distance between facet hooks is placed at this level and the next superior adjacent facet may also be targeted.
Operative technique The patient is placed prone, supported by bolsters over ASIS and upper chest with care to keep pressure off the abdomen. After preparing the skin the back is draped to expose the midline of the back.
The facet joint, which is to receive the facet cap, is then stripped of the joint capsule and posterior pericapsular ligament. Care is taken to leave the facet cartilage intact. The contra lateral facet joint is then stripped of ligament and capsule. The facet joint cartilage on the contra lateral facet joint is excised to bleeding subchondral bone.
A laminar spreader is placed between the superior and inferior transverse processes on the side of the spine to receive the facet cap. The laminar spreader is distracted to open the space in the ipslateral facet joint. The facet cap is then placed in the facet joint and laminar spreader removed. Correct placement of the facet cap should allow for maintenance of the distraction created by the laminar spreader. The bone is then decorticated, autologus bone graft placed along both sides of the transverse processes, facet and lamina. AP and lateral radiographs are taken to assess position and affect of the facet cap. The paravertebral muscle is then approximated and skin closed.
Example 5 Male patient 16 years old with 70 degree thoracic curve and 95 degree neuromuscular kypho-scoliosis (Kingston, Ontario, Canada). The pre-operative plan for facet cap placement was to assess the possibility of seating a facet cap like that of Figure 3F in the lumbar facet joint between the L1 and L2 lumbar vertebrae.
The posterior spine was prepared in the standard fashion, described above.
After the L1-L2 lumbar vertebrae facet was stripped of the capsule the joint was inspected. No space was available to open the facet joint so that the facet cap could be inserted. However, it is expected that could the facet joint have been opened, the facet position could be altered to allow the facet cap to be seated.
Example 6 Female patient 14 years old with 54 degree King II idiopathic scoliosis (Kingston, Ontario, Canada). The pre-operative plan was for facet cap placement in the L1-lumbar facet joint, and the T6-T7 thoracic facet joint. The use of laminar spreader distraction between the facet joint aided in facet.joint alignment, as did the addition of a small metal dissector into the joint for space creation and facet cap placement.
The posterior spine was prepared in the standard fashion as described above.
After the L1-L2 lumbar vertebrae facet was stripped of the capsule, a blunt osteotome was placed in the inferior joint and wedged the joint open. Concurrently a laminar spreader was placed between L1 and L2 and distracted. These two manoeuvres opened the facet joint and subjectively corrected the scoliosis in this segment.
However, the facet cap like that of Figure 3B could not be inserted because it was the wrong size for this patient. In particular, the facet hook pattern (radius) of the superior and inferior facet hooks of the facet cap was too narrow and the overall length of the facet cap too long. It is expected that changing the radius of the facet hooks to a range of about 5 mm to about 1 cm, and the overall length of the facet cap to a range of about 1.5 cm to about 2.5 cm would have been appropriate. The thoracic facet was addressed, and it was found that the superior facet hook obscured implantation of the facet cap in this patient and the facet cap could not be inserted. It is expected that rotation of the inferior facet hook by about 30 degrees from parallel to the facet cap to the right, for right insertion, and to the left for left insertion, would have facilitated implantation of the facet cap in this patient.
Example 7 Female patient 16 years old =with 45 degree thoracic curve and 95 degree kyphosis neuromuscular kypho-scoliosis (Kingston, Ontario, Canada). The pre-operative plan was to place modified facet caps (Figures 9A and 9B) into the lumbar facet joint and T7-T8 thoracic facet joint.
Using the technique described above the L2-L3 facet joint was opened and a facet cap like that shown in Figure 9B was inserted. This is shown in Figure 10B, where reference numeral 400 refers to the facet cap, with superior facet hook 410 and inferior facet hook 420 partially visible. Also shown in Figure 10B are several Moss Miami (DePuy-AcroMed Inc.) laminar hooks 430 placed around vertebral laminae, for use with rods for the standard corrective procedure. The facet cap subjectively corrected the scoliosis at this level. The T7-T8 facet joint was prepared and a facet cap like that shown in Figure 9A was inserted, as shown in Figure 10A where reference numeral 300 denotes the facet cap. The inferior facet hook 320 can be seen clearly. Also visible are several Moss Miami (DePuy-AcroMed Inc.) laminar hooks 330 placed around vertebral laminae, for use with rods for the standard corrective procedure. The facet cap subjectively corrected the scoliosis at this level. Dimensions of the facet caps used in this example are provided in the below table.
Table 1. Dimensions of facet caps used in Example 7 and shown in Figures 9A
Dimension mm a 2.0 b 1.5 c 25.0 d 28.0 e 14.7 f 8.7 g 8.4 h 0 r 3.2 Equivalents Variants to the embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such variants are within the scope of the present invention and are covered by the below claims.
1. A spinal facet cap adapted to treat abnormal curvature of the spine, comprising:
a shim portion adapted to be inserted into a facet joint of a spine; and an alignment portion extending from the shim portion, said alignment portion including a tongue with an orifice;
wherein said orifice is positionable relative to the shim portion.
2. The spinal facet cap of claim 1, wherein said shim portion includes a facet contact surface that is at least partially complementary to at least a facet joint contour.
3. The spinal facet cap of claim 1 or 2, further comprising at least one pin extending from the shim portion.
4. The spinal facet cap of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising at least two pins extending from the shim portion.
5. The spinal facet cap of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising at least one hook extending from the shim portion.
6. The spinal facet cap of claim 5, wherein said at least one hook extends from a peripheral edge of the shim portion.
7. The spinal facet cap of any one of claims 1 to 6, including a first hook extending from a first surface of said shim portion and a second hood extending from a second surface of said shim portion.
8. The spinal facet cap of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said shim portion is at least one of concave and convex.
9. The spinal facet cap of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said shim portion includes at least one boss extending therefrom.
10. The spinal facet cap of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said shim portion includes at least one ridge extending therefrom.
11. The spinal facet cap of any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the facet contact surface is substantially a shape complementary to an articulating surface of a facet joint.
12. The spinal facet cap of any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein said tongue is positionable relative to said facet contact surface.
13. The spinal facet cap of any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein said orifice is positionable relative to said facet contact surface.
14. A spinal facet cap for treating abnormal curvature of the spine, comprising:
a first element comprising an alignment portion; and a second element comprising at least a part of a shim portion, said shim portion adapted to be inserted into a facet joint of a spine;
said first and second elements adapted to receive each other such that said alignment portion is movable relative to said at least a part of said shim portion.
15. The spinal facet cap of claim 14, wherein said alignment portion is the only element extending from said shim portion.
16. The spinal facet cap of claim 14 or 15, wherein said shim portion includes a facet contact surface that is at least partially complementary to at least a portion of an articulating surface of a facet joint.
17. The spinal facet cap of claim 14 or 16, wherein said shim portion includes a pin extending from a facet contact surface of the shim portion.
18. The spinal facet cap of claim 17, further comprising at least two pins extending from the shim portion.
19. The spinal facet cap of claim 14 or 16, further comprising at least one hook extending from the shim portion.
20. The spinal facet cap of claim 14 wherein said shim portion includes at least one hook extending from a peripheral edge of a facet contact surface of the shim portion.
21. The spinal facet cap of claim 14 or 16, wherein said shim portion includes at least one boss extending therefrom.
22. The spinal facet cap of claim 14 or 16, wherein said shim portion includes at least one ridge extending therefrom.
23. The spinal facet cap of claim 14 or 16, wherein said shim portion includes at least one ridge extending from a peripheral edge of a facet contact surface of the shim portion.
24. The spinal facet cap of any one of claims 14 to 23, wherein said alignment portion includes a tongue and said tongue is positionable relative to the shim portion.
25. The spinal facet cap of any one of claims 14 to 23, wherein said alignment portion includes an orifice and said orifice is positionable relative to said shim portion.
26. The spinal facet cap of any one of claims 14 to 25, wherein a shape of the shim portion is adjustable.
27. The spinal facet cap of any one of claims 14 to 26, wherein the shim portion is wedge-shaped and an angle of the wedge shape is adjustable.
28. Use of the spinal facet cap of claim 1 or 14 for treating abnormal curvature of the spine of a subject.
29. The use of claim 28, further comprising use of a said spinal facet cap in each of two or more facet joints of the spine.
30. The use of claim 28 or 29, wherein the alignment portion comprises at least one facet hook disposed along at least one edge of the shim portion, for receiving either one of the superior facet or the inferior facet of a vertebra.
31. The use of claim 28 or 29, wherein the alignment portion comprises two facet hooks disposed along two edges of the shim portion, one said facet hook for receiving the superior facet of a first vertebra, a second said facet hook for receiving the inferior facet of a second vertebra.
32. The use of any one of claims 28 to 31, wherein said alignment portion is adjustable relative to said shim portion
33. The use of any one of claims 28 to 32, wherein the alignment portion further comprises a tongue having an orifice.
34. The use of any one of claims 28 to 32, wherein the shim portion is wedge-shaped.
35. The use of claim 34, wherein an angle of the wedge shape is adjustable.
36. The use of any one of claims 28 to 35, wherein the facet joint is an unmodified facet joint.
37. The use of any one of claims 28 to 36, wherein said use in at least one facet joint corrects asymmetry between left and right facet joints of a vertebra.
38. The use of any one of claims 28 to 37, wherein said alignment portion is for fixed use with a vertebral structure associated with one of the inferior and superior facet but not with the other of the adjacent inferior and superior facet, and wherein mobility of the facet joint is preserved.
39. The use of claim 38, wherein:
the one of the inferior and superior facets is an anchoring facet; and the shim portion includes a pin;
wherein the pin is for use with the anchoring facet so that the shim portion is fixedly associated with the anchoring facet.
40. The use of any one of claims 28 to 39, wherein said use further comprises use of an imaging system.
41. The use of claim 40, wherein said imaging system is selected from computed tomography (CT), radiography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
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