FACET PROSTHETIC DEVICES

A prosthetic device configured to replace a pair oi tacets on adjacent upper and lower vertebral bodies and the facet joint between those facets in that spine from which spine the facets and facet joints to be replaced have been removed, comprising: a. ) an elongated upper attachment arm curved forward and configured to conform to and to attach at an upper end to a prepared facet site on the lateral posterior of the upper vertebral body, the facet site being prepared by the removal of the facet and the facet joint, and the elongated upper attachment arm being attached at an opposite end to a compressible stabilizing member, b. ) an elongated lower attachment arm curved rearward and configured to conform to and to attach at a lower end to a prepared facet site on the lateral posterior of the lower vertebral body, the facet site being prepared by the removal of the facet and the facet joint, and the elongated lower attachment arm being attached at an opposite end to the compressible stabilizing member, and, c. ) the compressible stabilizing member fixedly attached to the upper and lower attachment arms, the compressible stabilizing member further comprising an upper endplate fixedly attached to the elongated upper attachment arm, a lower endplate fixedly attached to the elongated lower attachment arm, a compressible core element separating the upper endplate from the lower endplate, and a plurality of fibers wound between and interconnecting the upper endplate and lower endplate.