Facet arthroplasty devices and methods

Abstract

Surgically installed prostheses replace either the caudal portion of a natural facet joint, the cephalad portion of a natural facet joint, or both. The prostheses are readily attached to the pedicles of a vertebral body and support at least one element that defines an artificial facet joint structure. The caudal facet joint structure is sized and located to articulate with the cephalad facet joint structure. Together, the prostheses form a total facet replacement system. The system is suitable for use in virtually all levels of the spine.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 067,137, filed Feb. 4, 2002, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 693,272, filed Oct. 20, 2000, entitled “Facet Arthroplasty Devices and Methods,” now U.S. Pat. No. 6,610,091, which claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 160,891, filed Oct. 22, 1999, and entitled “Facet Arthroplasty Devices and Methods,” all of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention generally relates to devices and surgical methods for the treatment of various types of spinal pathologies. More specifically, the present invention is directed to several different types of facet joint replacement prostheses, surgical procedures for performing facet joint replacements, and surgical instruments which may be used to perform the surgical procedures. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Back pain is a common human...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019] Another aspect of the invention provides a prosthesis assembly and related method for replacing a natural facet joint between adjoining first vertebral body and a second vertebral bodies. The assembly and method utilize a first component sized to be fixed to the first vertebral body, which is superior to the second vertebral body. The first component includes a first artificial facet joint structure adapted to replace a cephalad portion of the natural facet joint on the first vertebral body after removal of the cephalad portion of the natural facet joint from the first vertebral body. The assembly and method also comprise a second component sized to be fixed to the second vertebral body. The second component includes a second artificial facet joint structure adapted to replace the caudad portion of the natural facet joint of the second vertebral body after removal of the caudad portion of the natural facet joint from the second vertebral body. Together, the first and second artificial facet joint structures comprise an artificial facet joint. The removal of both cephalad and caudal portions of a natural facet joint and their total replacement by the artificial facet joint structures of the first and second components allows the artificial facet joint to be installed without anatomic constraints imposed by a preexisting articular configuration of the natural facet joint. The removal of the natural facet joints also removes bone spurs affecting the nerve roots adjacent the natural facet structures, alleviating or eliminating pain. Furthermore, the artificial facet joint structures of either the first or second components, or both, can create an artificial articular configuration for the artificial facet joint that is unlike the preexisting articular configuration of the removed natural facet joint, so that a desired articulation or bony anatomy can be completely restored. By restoring facet joint articulation to a desired level of function, the incidence of spondylolisthesis can be reduced or eliminated. Other features and advantages of the inventions are set forth in the following Description and Drawings, as well as in the appended claims.

Problems solved by technology

Furthermore, although patients with one or two levels of spinal stenosis tend to do reasonably well with just a one to two level wide decompressive laminectomy, patients whose spinal stenosis is associated with degenerative spondylolisthesis have not seen good results.

Although patients who undergo concomitant arthrodesis do demonstrate a significantly better outcome with less chance of further vertebral slippage after laminectomy, arthrodesis poses problems of its own.

Aside from the occurrence of further spondylolisthesis in some patients, additional effects include non-unions, slow rate of fusion even with autografts, and significant morbidity at the graft donor site.

Furthermore, even if the fusion is successful, joint motion is totally eliminated at the fusion site, creating additional stress on healthy segments of the spine which can lead to disc degeneration, herniation, instability spondylolysis, and facet joint arthritis in the healthy segments.

Although different designs achieve different levels of success with patients, disc replacement mainly helps patients with injured or diseased discs; disc replacement does not address spine pathologies such as spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis caused by facet joint degeneration or disease.

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