Prosthesis for the replacement of a posterior element of a vertebra

1. A prosthesis for the replacement of a posterior element of a natural vertebra, the natural vertebra comprising two natural superior facets, two natural inferior facets, and a natural lamina, the prosthesis comprising:

a first prosthetic superior facet to replace a first natural superior facet;

a second prosthetic superior facet to replace a second natural superior facet;

a first prosthetic inferior facet to replace a first natural inferior facet; and

a second prosthetic inferior facet to replace a second natural inferior facet;

a first prosthetic mount securable to the natural vertebra through the use of a first fixation member;

a second prosthetic mount securable to the natural vertebra through the use of a second fixation member; and

a nonplanar interconnecting structure that rigidly interconnects the first and second prosthetic superior facets and the first and second prosthetic inferior facets with each other;

wherein the first and second prosthetic mounts are positioned relative to the interconnecting structure such that, after attachment of the first and second prosthetic mounts to the vertebra, the prosthesis exclusively contacts resected surfaces of the vertebra.

2. The prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the first and second prosthetic superior facets and the first and second prosthetic inferior facets are interconnected with each other by an interconnecting structure monolithically formed with the first and second prosthetic superior facets and the first and second prosthetic inferior facets.

3. The prosthesis of claim 2 , wherein the interconnecting structure comprises a prosthetic lamina.

4. The prosthesis of claim 3 , wherein each of the first and second prosthetic superior facets and the first and second prosthetic inferior facets comprises a flange extending from the prosthetic lamina.

5. The prosthesis of claim 2 , wherein the interconnecting structure is shaped to position the first and second prosthetic superior facets proximate original locations of first and second natural superior facets of the natural vertebra, and to position the first and second prosthetic inferior facets proximate original locations of first and second natural inferior facets of the natural vertebra.

6. The prosthesis of claim 5 , wherein the first and second prosthetic superior facets are shaped to replace first and second natural superior articular processes after removal of the first and second natural superior articular processes from the natural vertebra, wherein the first and second prosthetic inferior facets are shaped to replace first and second natural inferior articular processes after removal of the first and second natural inferior articular processes from the natural vertebra.

7. The prosthesis of claim 1 , further comprising features shaped to facilitate attachment of the prosthesis to pedicles of the natural vertebra.

8. A prosthesis for the replacement of a posterior element of a natural vertebra, the natural vertebra comprising four natural facets, a natural lamina, and a natural spinous process, the prosthesis comprising:

four prosthetic facets shaped and positioned to replace the four natural facets;

a prosthetic spinous process; and

interconnecting structure configured to rigidly interconnect the four prosthetic facets and the prosthetic spinous process, wherein the interconnecting structure comprises a prosthetic lamina;

wherein each of the four prosthetic facets comprises a flange extending from the prosthetic lamina.

9. The prosthesis of claim 8 , wherein the interconnecting structure is shaped to position the first and second prosthetic superior facets proximate original locations of first and second natural superior facets of the natural vertebra, and to position the first and second prosthetic inferior facets proximate original locations of first and second natural inferior facets of the natural vertebra.

10. The prosthesis of claim 9 , wherein the first and second prosthetic superior facets are shaped to replace first and second natural superior articular processes after removal of the first and second natural superior articular processes from the natural vertebra, wherein the first and second prosthetic inferior facets are shaped to replace first and second natural inferior articular processes after removal of the first and second natural inferior articular processes from the natural vertebra.

11. The prosthesis of claim 8 , further comprising features shaped to facilitate attachment of the prosthesis to pedicles of the natural vertebra.

12. A method for replacing a posterior element of a natural vertebra, the natural vertebra comprising four natural facets and a natural lamina, the method comprising:

providing access to at least a portion of the natural vertebra;

resecting the vertebra to remove at least the posterior element, thereby providing a plurality of resected surfaces of the natural vertebra; and

attaching a prosthesis to the natural vertebra to replace all four of the natural facets with four prosthetic facets rigidly interconnected by a nonplanar interconnecting structure such that, after attachment of the prosthesis to the vertebra, the prosthesis exclusively contacts resected surfaces of the vertebra.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the prosthesis comprises:

four prosthetic facets; and

interconnecting structure monolithically formed with the four prosthetic facets;

wherein attaching the prosthesis to the natural vertebra comprises securing the interconnecting structure to the natural vertebra.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the interconnecting structure comprises a prosthetic lamina, the method further comprising removing a natural lamina of the natural vertebra.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein each of the prosthetic facets comprises a flange extending from the prosthetic lamina.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein attaching the prosthesis to the natural vertebra comprises:

positioning first and second prosthetic superior facets of the prosthetic facets proximate original locations of first and second natural superior facets of the natural vertebra; and

positioning first and second prosthetic inferior facets proximate original locations of first and second natural inferior facets of the natural vertebra.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising removing first and second natural superior articular processes and first and second natural inferior articular processes from the natural vertebra prior to attachment of the prosthesis to the natural vertebra.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein attaching the prosthesis to the natural vertebra comprises securing the prosthesis to pedicles of the natural vertebra.