STUDY DESIGN Immunohistochemical study of the sensory innervation of the human lumbar intervertebral disc. OBJECTIVE To determine the type of sensory fibers innervating human degenerated lumbar intervertebral discs. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Sensory neurons involved in pain perception related to inflammation in rats are typically small, peptide-containing neurons immunoreactive for calcito...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of posterior implant rigidity on spinal kinematics at adjacent levels by utilizing a cadaveric spine model with simulated physiological loading. METHODS Five human lumbar spinal specimens (L3 to S1) were obtained and checked for abnormalities. The fresh specimens were stripped of muscle tissue, with care taken to preserve the spinal ligaments and facet joi...

We attempted to correlate the findings of MRI and discography in patients with low back pain, examining 108 lumbar intervertebral discs in 33 consecutive patients. MRI results were assessed from the intensity and shape of the signal obtained from the central part of the disc. Discography was classified according to the pattern of contrast material, the pressure accepted and the pain reproduced....

STUDY DESIGN A new rabbit model was developed that produces disc degeneration through the application of controlled and quantified axial mechanical load. OBJECTIVES To characterize the changes associated with disc degeneration, and to evaluate the feasibility of local transfer of agents to the compressed discs to stimulate disc regeneration. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Studies have shown tha...

BACKGROUND Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is common, with severe disease increasing the risk for chronic low back pain. This cross-sectional study examined whether disc degeneration is representative of a 'whole-organ' pathology, by examining its association with bone (vertebral endplate) and soft tissue (paraspinal muscle fat) abnormalities. METHODS Seventy-two community-based...

BACKGROUND CONTEXT The intervertebral disc is a common source of low back pain (LBP). Prospective studies suggest that treatments that intermittently distract the disc might be beneficial for chronic LBP. Although the potential exists for distraction therapies to affect the disc biomechanically, their effect on intradiscal stress is debated. PURPOSE To determine if distraction alone, distract...

Disorders of normal relations within the intervertebral joints are among the most important secondary consequences of intervertebral disc injury. Not only the joint mechanics are impaired, but since the disintegration of nucleus pulposus causes backward movement of the axis of movement, there are also secondary degenerative changes inflicted which, in turn, accelerate wear of the facet joints. ...

Visfatin reportedly induces the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Severe grades intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) exhibit higher visfatin than mild ones. However, direc...

INTRODUCTION Intervertebral disc degeneration is considered one of the key causes of back pain. The intervertebral disc has three major structural components: nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosus, and cartilaginous endplates (CEP). Many studies have been reported on anatomy, mechanics, and chemistry of the nucleus and annulus [1-4] while very little is known about the MR characteristics of the CE...