Spinal plug for a minimally invasive joint fusion system

Abstract

A frustum shaped body has an aperture in a top surface and a pair of first and second opposed apertures in a side surface, first and second horizontal internal channels connect both the first and second opposed apertures. A vertical channel from the top aperture connects with the first and second channels. After the body is inserted into a hole in a facet joint, compatible synthetic or biologic material is inserted into the vertical channel until the material exits from the first and second apertures in the side surface. At least one pair of flanges on a portion of an exterior side surface of the body acts as a detent to hold the body in place within the facet joint hole.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . An arthroscopic type portal facet surgical method comprising:
 placing an arthroscopic type portal into a human patient through a minimally invasive incision in the tissue of said human patient;   accessing a facet joint through said portal, wherein said facet joint comprises a first facet joint bone and a second facet joint bone, and wherein said first facet joint bone comprises a first articulated surface and said second facet joint bone comprises a second articulated surface, and wherein said first articulated surface and said second articulated surface face each other at said facet joint;   removing a first portion of the first facet joint bone at the first articulated surface and a second portion of the second facet joint bone at the second articulated surface to create a space between the first and second facet joint bones;   inserting a facet joint fusion plug into said space through said portal; and   pushing said facet joint fusion plug into said space.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said facet joint fusion plug comprises a material selected from one or more of the group consisting of a synthetic bone substitute, a metal bone substitute, a harvested compacted iliac crest graft, an autologous autograft and a cadaveric allograft. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein after said removal said remaining portions of said bones define said space as conically shaped and
 said space has a shape allowing said facet joint fusion plug to be tamped into said hole.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said step of placing said arthroscopic type portal into said human patient comprises placing a drill guide into said human patient, wherein said drill guide comprises said arthroscopic type portal. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said drill guide comprises teeth for maintaining the drill guide proximate to said facet joint. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said facet joint fusion plug comprises a cadaveric allograft. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said pushing compresses said facet joint fusion plug in said space. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said facet joint fusion plug comprises a material that can be integrated into said facet joint through bone ingrowth. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said facet joint fusion plug comprises a material selected from the group consisting of synthetic cortical bone graft and synthetic nonmetallic bone substitute. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein after removal of said first portion and second portion, a diameter of a posterior cross-section of the space is greater than a diameter of a cross-section of the facet joint fusion plug. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said facet joint fusion plug is fixed in said space by compression of said facet joint fusion plug after said step of pushing said facet joint plug into said space. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said facet joint fusion plug comprises a flange. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said facet joint fusion plug further comprises a substantially frustum shaped region, and said flange is disposed on a surface of said substantially frustum shaped region.