PURPOSE To test the hypothesis that diffusion of contrast medium into the intervertebral disk is affected by the integrity of the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus. METHODS In canine intervertebral disks, defects were made in the annulus fibrosus and nuclear material was removed from the disk with a nucleotome. MR imaging was performed with intravenous contrast medium at 15, 30, 60, and 9...

Intervertebral disk degeneration has been considered an irreversible process characterized by a decrease in cell viability, attenuation of proteoglycan and type II collagen synthesis, and dehydration of nucleus pulposus. Stem cell therapy specifically addresses the degenerative process and offers a potentially effective treatment modality. Current preclinical studies show that mesenchymal stem ...

Although degeneration of the intervertebral disk has historically been described as a misbalance between anabolic and catabolic factors, the role of inflammatory mediators has long been neglected. However, past research clearly indicates that inflammatory mediators such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α are expressed at higher levels in "diseased" intervertebral dis...

BACKGROUND Displacement of canine intervertebral disk material can be seen directly in diagnostic imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomographic imaging. Canine intervertebral disk herniation can be differentiated into Hansen type 1 and 2 categories by clinical appearance, but anular- and nuclear disk material cannot be distinguished in computed tomographic image...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE MR imaging has been used extensively for identification and determination of chronicity of VCF. A major emphasis is placed on identification of edema or fluid clefts within the vertebral body. Little attention is given to other spinal structures such as vertebral endplate, intervertebral disk, posterior elements, and facet joints, spinal ligaments, and paraspinal musculat...

In the original description of herniated intervertebral disk by Mixter and Barr [1), the term used was rupture of the inter-vertebral disk. However, with the passage of time, this term, although used frequently by surgeons, has become meaningless. A rupture of the disk is a common finding at autopsy when the disks are examined, but ruptures are not necessarily associated with herniation of the ...

Many challenges confront intervertebral disk engineering owing to complexity and the presence of extraordinary stresses. Rebuilding a disk of native function could be useful for removal of the symptoms and correction of altered spine kinematics. Improvement in understanding of disk properties and techniques for disk engineering brings promise to the fabrication of a functional motion segment fo...

Intervertebral disk degeneration is a common and potentially debilitating disease process affecting millions of Americans and other populations each year. Current treatments address resultant symptoms and not the underlying pathophysiology of disease. This has spawned the development of biologic treatments, such as gene therapy, which attempt to correct the imbalance between catabolism and anab...

The results of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and computed tomography (CT) in 18 patients with known degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine were compared. In 60 intervertebral disk levels studied, there were 17 disks with degeneration and disk bulge, and 15 herniated disks. Final diagnoses were based on several factors, with surgical confirmation in five patients. There was good correla...