Patent ID: 7998177

Claim:
A method for replacing facets of a mammalian vertebra, the method comprising: resecting the vertebra to provide first and second resected portions of the vertebra; attaching a first prosthesis to the first resected portion such that a first articulating surface of the first prosthesis is positioned to articulate against a first facet of an adjacent vertebra; attaching a second prosthesis to the second resected portion such that a second articulating surface of the second prosthesis is positioned to articulate against a second facet of the adjacent vertebra; selecting any one of a plurality of displacement values between the first and second prostheses; positioning a crosslink between adjacent spinous processes of the vertebra; and attaching the crosslink to the first and second prostheses after attachment of at least one of the prostheses to the vertebra such that the crosslink extends between the first and second prostheses to provide the selected displacement value between the prostheses, wherein the crosslink is adjustable laterally with respect to the first and second prostheses.