APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RESTORING BIOMECHANICAL FUNCTION TO A MOTION SEGMENT UNIT OF THE SPINE

摘要

A method of restoring stability to an unstable motion segment unit of the spine in which pre and post decompression measurements of at least one characteristic of the targeted motion segment unit, or combination of motion segment units, are compared with a data bank of measurements of the same characteristics of known motion segment units, then matched with suitable implantable spinal assist device to identify a suitable device for correcting instability of the targeted motion segment unit. The implant selected for restabilization of any one patient's spine joint will be in part, a function of an objective, intraoperative stiffness measurement, which in turn, is a function of the integrity of a patient's surviving spine joint tissues at this time-post decompression.