Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: thedoc on 03/08/2011 10:26:27

Title: Are biological disc replacements becoming a reality?
Post by: thedoc on 03/08/2011 10:26:27

Bioengineers from Cornell University have constructed replacement intervertebral discs which support normal mechanical function in the spines of rats, paving the way for new back pain treatments in humans.

Read the whole story on our  website by clicking here (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/news/news/2328/)

  

Title: Re: Are biological disc replacements becoming a reality?
Post by: imatfaal on 03/08/2011 10:15:59

I have heard many times that more working time is lost due to back pain than any other single illness - is this true?  And if we are getting closer to alleviating that problem it must be good news.

Title: Re: Are biological disc replacements becoming a reality?
Post by: CliffordK on 03/08/2011 10:35:39

One other therapy is bone fusions.

Back surgeries can be life-saving for some, especially if there is nerve impingement, and leg problems. 

However it is a very high risk surgery, with sometimes marginal results, especially if just treating pain.

A "human" graft would certainly be better than putting in metal, and hopefully less infection risk.  Antigens might be a problem, unless the replacement disk would be cultured out of a patient's own tissue.