title: Advances in biomaterials for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration.
abstract: In the past decade, the number of treatment methods for disc degeneration has dramatically increased due to advances in biomaterials. Disc degeneration is one of the leading causes of lower back pain in the adult population, and a large percentage of patients seek surgical solutions. Therefore, there is a great clinical need for biomaterials to alleviate pain associated with disc degeneration. Increased understanding of spinal physiology and pathophysiology has enabled the development of new surgical techniques as well as novel biomaterials for treatment. In this review, advances in biomaterials used for treating intervertebral disc degeneration are reviewed: cages and implants for spinal fusion, artificial discs for total disc arthroplasty, and emerging methods of synthetic nuclei and annulus repair. In addition, novel biomaterials are being explored to treat disc degeneration using a variety of treatment methods.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Engineering, Science & Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Yakira
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kirzner
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marcolongo
authors.forename: Sujata K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bhatia
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000628:therapy*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D055675:Viscosupplements / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D055675:Viscosupplements