Patent ID: 8668722

Claim:
A method of inserting an implant into a facet joint defined between an inferior articular surface of a superior vertebra and superior articular surface of an inferior vertebra, the method comprising: inserting a surgical instrument into the facet joint; after the inserting step, guiding a reamer along the surgical instrument and into the facet joint, and reaming the inferior and superior articulating surfaces with the reamer; and after the reaming step, inserting an implant at least partially into the facet joint defined by an inferior articular surface of the superior vertebra and a superior articular surface of the inferior vertebra, the implant having a body that is elongate along a central axis, wherein the inserting step includes the steps of (1) at least partially engaging the implant with both the inferior and superior articular surfaces, and (2) locating the central axis between the inferior and superior articular surfaces.