Methods and devices for altering spinal lordosis and/or kyphosis

Abstract

Disclosed are systems, devices, methods and surgical procedures for altering and/or correcting the alignment of adjacent bones, including bones of the spine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical method for creating a desired lordosis or kyphosis between an upper vertebra and a lower vertebrae, comprising the steps of:
 removing at least a portion of a natural intervertebral disc from between the upper and lower vertebrae to create a disc space in a targeted spinal region;   selecting a proper size of a spinal prosthetic implant;   preparing at least a portion of a first endplate of the upper vertebrae to create a first resected plane at a first orientation;   preparing at least a portion of the second endplate of the lower vertebrae to create a second resected plane at a second orientation; and   implanting the spinal prosthetic implant within the disc space onto the prepared upper endplate of the upper vertebrae and the prepared lower endplate of the lower vertebrae.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting the proper size of the spinal prosthetic implant comprises the step of tensioning the soft tissues within the disc space. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of selecting the proper size of the spinal prosthetic implant comprises the steps of:
 tensioning the soft tissues within the disc space; and   trialing at least one dimension of the spinal prosthetic implant using one or more trialing tools to maintain tensioning of the soft tissues within the disc space.   
     
     
         4 . The surgical method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one dimension comprises at least one height dimension or at least one length dimension. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one dimension comprises at least one height dimension and at least one length dimension. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , wherein the first resected plane at the first orientation is different than the second resected plane at the second orientation. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical method of  claim 6 , wherein the second resected plane at the second orientation comprises an angled orientation. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical method of  claim 6 , wherein the first resected plane of the first orientation comprises a planar orientation. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , wherein the second resected plane at a second orientation is below a native anatomical plane of the second endplate. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , wherein the spinal prosthetic implant comprises an upper joint component and a lower joint component, the upper joint component comprises an upper articulation surface, the upper articulation surface includes a concave shape, the lower joint component comprises a lower articulation surface, the lower articulation surface includes a convex shape, the upper articulation surface of the upper joint component engages with the lower articulation surface of the lower joint component to create a ball-and-socket joint that permits motion between the upper and lower vertebrae. 
     
     
         11 . A surgical method for creating a desired lordosis or kyphosis between an upper vertebra and a lower vertebrae, comprising the steps of:
 removing at least a portion of a natural intervertebral disc from between the upper and lower vertebrae to create a disc space in a targeted spinal region;   removing at least a first portion of an upper endplate and at least a portion of a first pedicle of the lower vertebrae to create a first resected plane at a first orientation;   removing at least a second portion of the upper endplate and at least a portion of a second pedicle of the lower vertebrae to create a second resected plane at a second orientation;   implanting a first spinal prosthetic implant within the disc space onto the first resected plane to obtain a first desired tension of a first annulus portion;   implanting a second spinal prosthetic implant within the disc space onto the second resected plane to obtain a second desired tension of a second annulus portion, the second spinal prosthetic implant between spaced apart from the first spinal prosthetic implant;   wherein the first and second desired tensions are balanced to enable an articulation of the upper vertebrae relative to the lower vertebrae between a first flexed position and a second extended position.   
     
     
         12 . The surgical method of  claim 11 , wherein the first orientation and the second orientation are symmetrical. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical method of  claim 11 , wherein the first orientation and the second orientation are asymmetrical. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical method of  claim 11 , wherein the first orientation and second orientation are selected to induce a sagittal correction between the upper and lower vertebrae. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical method of  claim 11 , wherein the first orientation and second orientation are selected to induce a combined coronal and sagittal correction between the upper and lower vertebrae. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of removing at least a first portion of an upper endplate and at least a portion of a first pedicle of the lower vertebrae to create a first resected plane at a first orientation comprising using a surgical rasp to concurrently remove the first portion of the upper endplate and the least a portion of the first pedicle concurrently. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical method of  claim 16 , wherein the surgical rasp is attached to a surgical guidance system. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical method of  claim 16 , wherein the surgical rasp is attached to a surgical robot. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical method of  claim 11 , wherein the first spinal prosthetic implant has a first height and the second spinal prosthetic implant has a second height and the first height is different from the second height. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical method of  claim 11 , wherein the first spinal prosthetic implant has a first height and the second spinal prosthetic implant has a second height and the first and second heights are the same height.