A prosthesis for the replacement of an intervertebral disc of the spine
comprises a block of an elastomeric material, which is held under
compression by an encapsulating textile fabric. A preferred version of
the invention has flanges that are continuations of the encapsulating
fabric forming an interdigitation, with the continuation of the upper
fabric passing through a hole in the lower fabric and being attached to
the lower vertebral body and the continuation of the lower fabric
crossing to its fixation site on the upper vertebral body. Optionally,
the flanges are resorbable, over time leaving only the implant core and
encapsulation fabric in the intervertebral space.