UNCINATE JOINT STABILIZERS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHOS

A method for stabilizing a cervical spine segment is disclosed. The method comprises, implanting a respective uncinate joint stabilizer into each uncinate joint of the cervical spine segment to stabilize the uncinate joints and thereby stabilize the cervical spine segment. Each uncinate joint stabilizer is elongated along a lengthwise dimension and includes a generally cylindrical portion with a cylinder axis in the lengthwise dimension, and it has threads for threading the uncinate joint stabilizer into the respective uncinate joint. The threads are interrupted by one or more fenestrations that are configured to accommodate one or more materials selected from the group consisting of bone graft material, bone growth, and tissue displaced from the respective uncinate joint by the uncinate joint stabilizer. Each uncinate joint stabilizer has a height defining spacing of the respective uncinate joint. Implanting includes threading each uncinate joint stabilizer into the respective uncinate joint of the cervical spine segment with the lengthwise dimensions oriented along an anterior-to-posterior direction of the cervical spine segment using the threads. [FIG. 1] 100(1) 100(2) 1.. . 50 :. . . 120(1) 120(2)