Spine
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Disc degeneration and osteoarthritis are diseases of the matrix. Chondrocytes that have been removed from damaged cartilaginous tissues maintain a capacity to proliferate, produce, and secrete matrix components, and respond to physical stimuli such as dynamic loading. A dog model was used to investigate the hypothesis that autologous disc chondrocytes can be used to repair damaged intervertebral disc. ⋯ Autologous chondrocyte transplantation is technically feasible and biologically relevant to repairing disc damage and retarding disc degeneration.
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The effects of intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) on intervertebral discs in sheep were studied experimentally. ⋯ Vascular granulation tissue and posterior annular neo-innervation was observed in the experimentally induced posterolateral annular lesion. IDET delivered at 90C in the sheep consistently heated the posterior annulus and the nucleus to a temperature normally associated with coagulation of nociceptors and collagen contraction. IDET did not denervate the posterior annular lesion. Thermal necrosis was observed within the inner annulus and adjacent nucleus from 6 weeks after IDET. The reported benefits from IDET appear to be related to factors other than denervation and repair.