title: Short term biomechanical effects of chymopapain injection; an in vitro investigation of human lumbar motion segments.
abstract: Intradiscal injections of therapeutic doses of chymopapain were performed on specimens of the human lumbar spine. The changes in disc height, intradiscal pressure and endplate stress distribution, as well as in bending and flexion mobility, were observed during 8 hours after the injection. Injection of isotonic saline was used for controls. The injection effects a temporary increase in disc height (and consequently a decrease in radial disc bulge) and a temporary increase of the intradiscal pressure. The stress distribution and motion segment mobility remain unchanged. No difference is noted between the chymopapain series and the saline controls.
authors.affiliation: Orthopädische Universitätsklinik, Abteilung Biomechanik, Hüfferstrasse 27, D-4400 Münster FRG.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brinckmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horst