Patent ID: 7517358

Claim:
A method of performing minimally-invasive facet joint arthroplasty, said method comprising the step of: inserting an inverted L-shaped prosthetic implant into a facet-joint, said implant having: a metallic body having a convex top portion integral at a rear edge with a concave downwardly descending portion, the top and downwardly descending portions having a highly polished exterior surface of a material biocompatible with bone; a concave lower surface under the top portion and convex inner textured surface on the downwardly descending portion; and at least one blade integral with the convex inner textured surface and a pair of teeth descending from a front edge of the convex top portion, wherein the at least one blade is positioned and configured to provide lateral stability when the implant is inserted into the facet joint and wherein the pair of teeth provides temporary fixation of the implant into the bone when the implant is inserted.