Abstract: An intervertebral implant has an elongated body that is narrower on each end than in the middle thereof. The body includes interconnected, parallel walls that include barbs positioned along the outer edges thereof. The barbs are typically inclined rearwardly thereby allowing easy insertion, yet preventing retropulsion or migration of the implant from the vertebral interspace. A distraction tool includes a distal end having a cross section that has two diagonally opposed rounded corners and two diagonally opposed square corners. An intervertebral implant instrumentation kit for surgically inserting an intervertebral implant into the interspace between adjacent vertebrae includes a distraction tool and the intervertebral implant.