The present application discloses a plurality of spinal implants and
methods for repairing annular defects in intervertebral discs and for
providing dynamic stability to the motion segment of the spine in the
vicinity of the repaired disc. Each of the implants comprises a head
portion and a tail portion. In the illustrated embodiments, the head
portion of each implant is enlarged relative to the tail portion. Each of
the head portions and tail portions is adapted to support adjacent
vertebrae and resist collapse of the intervertebral disc. A tapered
portion of each implant engages end plates of the adjacent vertebrae to
resist forces tending to push the implant out of the intervertebral
space. The tail portion of each implant includes a tail flange (which in
some embodiments is of similar diameter to the head portion) that abuts
extradiscal lips of the adjacent vertebrae and resists forces tending to
push the implant deeper into the intervertebral space.