Abstract: A surgical implant device configured to be implanted in a facet joint of a spine, comprising: a substantially cylindrical central body portion; and a pair of substantially prismatic side portions extending in radially opposite directions disposed on either side of the substantially cylindrical central body portion; wherein the substantially cylindrical central body portion is configured to be disposed in a central hole formed across the facet joint and crossing a plane of an articulating surface of each of a superior facet and an inferior facet thereof; wherein each of the substantially prismatic side portions is configured to be disposed in a side hole parallel to the central hole formed across the facet joint and crossing the plane of the articulating surface of each of the superior facet and the inferior facet thereof; and wherein each of the side holes partially overlap the central hole.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and surgical kits that can be used to fuse facet joints via a minimally invasive procedure (including an arthroscopic or percutaneous procedure). An exemplary method includes creating an incision; locating a facet joint with a distal end of a pin; sliding a substantially hollow drill guide over said pin wherein said drill guide comprises a proximal end, a distal end; removing said pin from within said drill guide; inserting a drill bit into said drill guide; drilling a hole into a bone of said facet joint; removing said drill bit; inserting a facet joint bone plug into said hole using a bone plug inserter having a raised portion at or near is proximal end, wherein said raised portion prevents over-insertion of said bone plug; and removing said drill guide.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and surgical kits that can be used to fuse facet joints via a minimally invasive procedure (including an arthroscopic or percutaneous procedure). An exemplary method includes creating an incision; locating a facet joint with a distal end of a pin; sliding a substantially hollow drill guide over said pin wherein said drill guide comprises a proximal end, a distal end; removing said pin from within said drill guide; inserting a drill bit into said drill guide; drilling a hole into a bone of said facet joint; removing said drill bit; inserting a facet joint bone plug into said hole using a bone plug inserter having a raised portion at or near is proximal end, wherein said raised portion prevents over-insertion of said bone plug; and removing said drill guide.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to tools, tool kits and methods useful for treating an SI joint. In one embodiment, the present invention is a. In one embodiment, the present invention is a method including the steps of: implanting a graft into a SI joint of a patient, wherein the implanting comprises: creating an incision in the patient's skin proximal to the patient's SI joint; dilating the incision; creating a void in the SI joint, wherein the creating comprises displacing a portion of the patient's ilium and a portion of the patient's sacrum; and inserting a graft into the void in the SI joint, wherein the graft contacts the patient's iluim and the patient's sacrum and wherein the graft is configured to substantially fuse the patient's ilium to the patient's sacrum, thereby substantially immobilizing the patient's SI joint.

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.