A method for distracting a pair of uncinate joints of a cervical spine segment includes positioning a pair of distractor tips in intervertebral disc space of the cervical spine segment, and pushing the pair of distractor tips into the pair of uncinate joints, respectively, from the intervertebral disc space to at least partly distract the uncinate joints. A method for stabilizing a cervical spine segment includes at least partly distracting the uncinate joints, thereby increasing height of the intervertebral disc space and, while maintaining distraction of the uncinate joints, placing an intervertebral device in the intervertebral disc space, the intervertebral device being configured to stabilize the cervical spine segment. A method for stabilizing a cervical spine segment includes at least partly distracting the uncinate joints, and implanting uncinate joint stabilizers in the uncinate joints to stabilize the uncinate joints, thereby stabilizing the cervical spine segment.
