A prosthesis for the replacement of at least a portion of the bone of a facet located on a mammalian vertebra, comprising: an articulating surface that articulates with another facet a bone contacting surface that contacts a surface of the vertebra, the articulating surface being connected to the bone contacting surface and a fixation element that attaches the bone contacting surface to the vertebra, the fixation element being adapted for implantation into an interior bone space of a pedicle of the vertebra wherein the prosthesis is configured so that no portion of the prosthesis contacts the posterior arch of the vertebra.
