Spinal implants and methods of providing dynamic stability to the spine

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.