Bone anchor systems

A bone anchor system for establishing an attachment site along an endplate adjacent an intervertebral disc, comprising:

• a bone anchor configured for insertion into an outer surface of a vertebral body and for presenting an attachment site along an endplate of the vertebral body, wherein the outer surface is offset at an angle substantially perpendicular to the endplate, the bone anchor comprising:
• a neck,
• wherein said neck has a length defined by a sharpened leading edge and a trailing end,
• wherein said neck comprises an attachment site along at least a portion of its length,
• wherein said attachment site is configured to be coupled to a prosthetic device;
• a bone anchoring region extending at least substantially perpendicular from the neck,
• wherein the bone anchoring region comprises a sharpened leading edge,
• wherein the sharpened leading edge of the bone anchoring region is configured for advancement within the outer surface of the vertebral body while the attachment site is simultaneously advanced along and across the endplate,
• wherein said attachment site is configured to extend above the endplate while the bone anchoring region is advanced within the outer surface of the vertebral body, and
• wherein the anchoring region is configured for countersinking within said outer surface such that no portion of said bone anchor lies beyond said outer surface of the vertebral body.