Patent ID: 8556936

Claim:
A method for replacing at least a portion of a natural facet of a first vertebra, the method comprising: positioning a superior articular surface to articulate with an adjacent inferior articular surface on an adjacent upper vertebra; positioning an inferior articular surface at any of a plurality of orientations with respect to the superior articular surface to enable the inferior articular surface to articulate with an adjacent superior articular surface on an adjacent lower vertebra; and implanting a fixation member in the first vertebra to secure the positioned superior and inferior articular surfaces to the first vertebra, wherein the superior articular surface is incorporated into a superior prosthesis and the inferior articular surface is incorporated into an inferior prosthesis, wherein positioning the superior articular surface comprises positioning the superior prosthesis, wherein positioning the inferior articular surface comprises positioning the inferior prosthesis, wherein at least one of positioning the superior prosthesis and positioning the inferior prosthesis is carried out such that after the corresponding prosthesis has been positioned, no portion of the corresponding prosthesis encircles a spinous process of the first vertebra.