title: Protecting facet joints post-lumbar discectomy: Barricaid annular closure device reduces risk of facet degeneration.
abstract: Lumbar discectomy is an effective treatment for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Although the majority of patients experience successful outcomes, a significant fraction will experience a recurrence of their back pain due to facet joint degeneration. Facet joint degeneration after discectomy may be the result of excessive nuclear removal, disc space narrowing, and annular injury. This study investigated whether implantation with the Barricaid annular closure device (ACD) during discectomy reduced the rate of facet degeneration. Inclusion criteria were primary lumbar disc herniation failing conservative treatment, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Leg≥40/100, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)≥40/100 and defects that were ≤60 mm2 (Barricaid arm only), and patient age 18-75. CT interpretations were collected preoperatively and 12 months post-discectomy. Patients implanted with Barricaid had significantly reduced rates and grades of facet degeneration than patients without Barricaid. Reinforcing the annulus fibrosus with Barricaid during lumbar discectomy may slow the progression of facet joint degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Medical University, Graz, Austria. martin.trummer@klinikum-graz.at
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trummer
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eustacchio
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.forename: Peter Douglas
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Klassen
authors.forename: Shlomit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010511:Periodontal Dressings; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012117:Resins, Synthetic; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D053441:Suture Anchors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C073467:Barricaid; D012117:Resins, Synthetic
keywords: Annular closure device; Annulus fibrosis; Disc herniation; Discectomy; Facet arthrosis; Facet degeneration; Facet joint; Lumbar