Patent ID: 7445635

Claim:
A spinal joint kit for replacement of a portion of a mammalian spine comprising a spinal motion segment comprising two adjacent vertebrae, the intervertebral disc, and other interposed soft tissues, the kit comprising: an artificial disc adapted to be incorporated into the spinal motion segment, the artificial disc comprising opposing end plates adapted to engage the adjacent vertebrae and an articulating structure therebetween; and a prosthesis comprising a pair of articular surfaces formed separately from each other, wherein the pair of articular surfaces is securable to one of the adjacent vertebrae to provide complementary interoperation with the artificial disc to help restore the natural biomechanics of the spinal motion segment, wherein the pair of articular surfaces is selected from the group consisting of a pair of prosthetic superior facets securable to the inferior of the two adjacent vertebrae to replace the corresponding natural superior facets, and a pair of prosthetic inferior facets securable to the superior of the two adjacent vertebrae to replace the corresponding natural inferior facets.