Spinal prostheses

Abstract

An article including a spinal prosthesis having a unitary body with at least three attachment points attachable to spinal structure, the unitary body including a flexure assembly positioned between first and second attachment members, wherein flexure of the flexure assembly permits movement of the first attachment member relative to the second attachment member.

1 - 28 . (canceled)  
   
   
       29 . A method of installing a spinal prosthesis in a spine having left and right spinal structures that join a vertebral arch to a vertebral body, the method comprising: 
 exposing adjacent spinal structures that join the vertebral arch to the vertebral body;    providing a posterior spinal prosthesis comprising a single flexure assembly centrally positioned between first and second attachment members; and    respectively fixing left and right portions of said first and second attachment members to left and right portions of said spinal structures, wherein said single flexure assembly is not fixed to said left and right portions of said spinal structures and wherein flexure of said flexure assembly permits movement of the first attachment member relative to the second attachment member.    
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein exposing the adjacent spinal structures comprises cutting into lamina and removing at least a portion thereof to create a gap between said spinal structures.  
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein exposing the adjacent spinal structures comprises removing a least a portion of facets.  
   
   
       32 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the left and right portions of said first and second attachment members are fixed to pedicles.  
   
   
       33 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein fixing the left and right portions of said first and second attachment members to the left and right portions of said spinal structures comprises screwing the left and right portions of said first and second attachment members into pedicles with pedicle screws.  
   
   
       34 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the left and right portions of said first and second attachment members are fixed to facets.