Method for stabilizing a facet joint

1. A method for stabilizing a facet joint comprising:

forming a hole through a facet joint and respective overlapping superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebra which, respectively, include superior articular process and inferior articular process openings, the hole extending lengthwise between the superior articular process and inferior articular process openings;

inserting an elongated member lengthwise into the hole to position opposing first and second end portions of the member proximate either the superior articular process and inferior articular process openings, respectively, or the inferior and superior articular process openings, respectively, wherein the first end portion defines a closed end and the second end portion defines an open end permitting entry into an interior of the member; and

filling the interior of the member with a desired material to expand the first and second end portions of the member beyond respective superior articular process and inferior articular process openings of the hole to greater than a desired size of the superior articular process and inferior articular process openings to stabilize the facet joint.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of forming the hole through the facet joint and respective overlapping superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebra comprises drilling the hole posteriorly through the facet joint.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting an elongated member comprises inserting the elongated member lengthwise into the hole to position opposing first and second end portions of the member proximate the superior articular process and inferior articular process openings, respectively, and wherein filling the member comprises filling the member with the desired material to expand the first and second end portions of the member, respectively, beyond superior articular process and inferior articular process openings.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after filling the interior of member, sealing the open end of the member.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting an elongated member lengthwise into the hole comprises via a delivery catheter, inserting the elongated lengthwise into the hole and wherein filling the member with a desired material comprises via the delivery catheter, filling the member with the desired material.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the desired material is a flexible material.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the elongated member is a bag that contains the desired material.

8. A method for stabilizing a facet joint comprising:

forming a hole through a facet joint and respective overlapping superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebra which, respectively, include superior articular process and inferior articular process openings, the hole extending lengthwise between opposing inferior and superior openings of a desired size;

inserting an elongated member lengthwise into the hole, the member including opposing first and second end portions, the first and second end portions are positioned proximate either the superior articular process and inferior articular process openings, respectively, or the inferior and superior articular process openings, respectively, wherein the first end portion defines a closed end and the second end portion defines an open end permitting entry into an interior of the member and a central portion of the member between opposing first and second end portions is configured to expand; and

filling the interior of the member with a desired material to expand the central portion beyond the hole within the facet joint thereby distracting the inferior and superior articular processes and to expand the opposing first and second end portions beyond respective superior articular process and inferior articular process openings of the hole to greater than a desired size of the superior articular process and inferior articular process openings to stabilize the facet joint.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of forming the hole through the facet joint and respective overlapping superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebra comprises drilling the hole posteriorly through the facet joint.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of inserting an elongated member comprises inserting the elongated member lengthwise into the hole to position opposing first and second end portions of the member proximate the superior articular process and inferior articular process openings, respectively, and wherein filling the member comprises filling the member with the desired material to expand the central portion beyond the hole within the facet joint and to expand the first and second end portions of the member, respectively, beyond superior articular process and inferior articular process openings.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising, after filling the interior of member, sealing the open end of the member.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of inserting an elongated member lengthwise into the hole comprises via a delivery catheter, inserting the elongated lengthwise into the hole and wherein filling the interior of the member with a desired material comprises via the delivery catheter, filling the interior of the member with the desired material.