Abstract: The embodiments provide a spinal implant that is configured for lateral insertion into a patient's intervertebral disc space. The spinal implant may have a body having a tapered anterior portion and one or more apertures. The tapered anterior portion allows for concomitant distraction of soft tissue during insertion of the implant. In addition, at least some of the apertures are designed to permit a predetermined amount of nutation by a fixation element. The fixations elements that allow nutation enable the fixation element to toggle from one position to another, for example, during subsidence of the implant in situ.