Patent ID: 8021392

Claim:
A method comprising: creating an incision; locating a facet joint with a distal end of a pin by inserting said pin into said facet joint wherein said facet joint is formed between two opposing bones and said pin comprises said distal end and a proximal end; sliding a substantially hollow spatula over said pin wherein said spatula comprises a proximal end, a distal end, a channel and a body wherein said distal end comprises a planar wedge; the planar wedge adapted to enter and distract a patient's joint; wherein the channel extends along the length of the substantially hollow spatula from the proximal end of the substantially hollow spatula to the distal end of the substantially hollow spatula, the channel is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the substantially hollow spatula; adjusting the rotation of said planar wedge until said planar wedge enters said facet joint; sliding a substantially hollow drill guide over said spatula wherein said drill guide comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a handle wherein said handle is nearer to the proximal end of the drill guide than to the distal end, said distal end comprises opposed teeth that can be inserted into said facet joint; removing said spatula from within said drill guide; inserting a drill bit into said drill guide; drilling a hole into a bone of said facet joint; removing said drill bit; inserting a facet joint bone plug into said hole using a bone plug inserter having a raised portion at or near its proximal end, wherein said raised portion prevents over-insertion of said bone plug; and; removing said drill guide; and closing said incision wherein said pin has also been removed prior to said closing of said incision.