Exhibit 5

                                       July 1, 1996



Spine-Tech, Inc.
7375 Bush Lake Road
Minneapolis, MN  55439

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          In connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Registration Statement"), relating to
the offering of 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the
"Shares"), of Spine-Tech, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the "Company"),
pursuant to the Spine-Tech, Inc. 1996 Omnibus Stock Plan and the Spine-Tech,
Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan, we have examined such corporate records and
other documents, including the Registration Statement, and have reviewed such
matters of law as we have deemed relevant hereto, and, based upon such
examination and review, it is our opinion that all necessary corporate action on
the part of the Company has been taken to authorize the issuance and sale of the
Shares and that, when issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration
Statement, the Shares will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable under
the current laws of the State of Minnesota.  

          We are admitted to the practice of law in the State of Minnesota and
the foregoing opinions are limited to the laws of that state and the federal
laws of the United States of America.  

          We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.  

                                       Very truly yours,



                                       FAEGRE & BENSON LLP