block 602 wherein a space is created between the superior articular facet 30 and the inferior articular facet 32 it will be understood by those skilled in the art that prior to creating the space it may be preferable or even necessary to expose the facet joint 36 at an effected level and remove the capsule the effected level may be exposed through use of any appropriate procedure such as a modified u201c wiltse u201d approach the creation of the space at process block 602 may be accomplished by using a curette or similar device and by removing the cartilaginous surfaces of the facet joint 36 in one exemplary embodiment the created space is sufficient for using a rasp on an articulating surface of an articular facet the space created between the superior articular facet 30 and the inferior articular facet 32 may range for example from about 2 mm to about 5 mm in one exemplary embodiment the space ranges from about 3 mm to about 4 mm flow progresses to process block 604 wherein a rasp is used to prepare the articulating surface 40 of the inferior articular facet 32 for an inferior implant 104 progression then continues to process block 606 wherein a rasp is used to prepare the articulating surface 38 of the superior.