Degenerative Disc Disease News and Research

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Risk factors for variety of complications following spine surgery

In the last 20 years, due to diagnostic and surgical advances, more and more patients have become appropriate candidates for spine surgery, and the number of these procedures performed has risen significantly. While medical experts acknowledge the potential benefits of spine surgery, they also understand that complications can reduce the success in the short and long term.

21 Sep 2011

IBN scientists harness ultrasmall peptides to repair spinal disc damage

New ultrasmall peptides that can be used as building blocks for a wide range of regenerative applications such as spinal disc replacement and cartilage repair have been developed by scientists at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN), the world's first bioengineering and nanotechnology research institute. These peptides spontaneously assemble in water to form hydrogels, which resemble collagen, a major component of connective tissues found in cartilage, ligaments, tendons, bone and skin.

12 Sep 2011

New bone marrow-derived stem cell therapy can benefit patients with degenerative disc disease

Neurosurgery researchers at UC Davis Health System have used a new, leading-edge stem cell therapy to promote the growth of bone tissue following the removal of cervical discs -- the cushions between the bones in the neck -- to relieve chronic, debilitating pain.

7 Sep 2011

Bioengineered spinal discs can prevent chronic back or neck pain

Every year, millions of people contend with lower back and neck discomfort. With intent to ease their pain, Cornell University engineers in Ithaca and doctors at the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City have created a biologically based spinal implant that could someday spell relief for these countless sufferers.

2 Aug 2011

Wenzel Spine surpasses 26,000 implantation of VariLift System

Wenzel Spine, Inc., a medical device company focused on providing less invasive, stand-alone alternatives to traditional spinal fusion, today announced that it has successfully surpassed the 26,000th implantation of its Stand-Alone VariLift Expandable Interbody Fusion Device.

14 Jul 2011

Artificial discs a viable alternative to fusion surgery for two-level lumbar degenerative disc disease

When two adjacent discs in the low back wear out, become compressed and cause unmanageable pain, numbness or other symptoms, replacement with artificial discs can be a viable alternative to standard fusion surgery, based on two-year post-surgery data from a randomized, multicenter trial recently published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

21 May 2011

The Bonati Spine Institute to participate in the Arthritis Walk on May 7

The Bonati Spine Institute, the leading center for the patented Bonati Spine Procedures for minimally invasive laser spine surgery, announces that a team of employees will participate in the Arthritis Walk on May 7.

4 May 2011

K2M receives FDA 510(k) clearance for EVEREST Degenerative Spinal System

K2M, Inc., today announced at the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (SAS) Conference that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the EVEREST™ Degenerative Spinal System, a versatile top-loading polyaxial pedicle screw system featuring the ability to accommodate multiple levels of fixation rigidity to help surgeons individualize patient care.

27 Apr 2011

Chicago doctor develops new non-surgical procedure to alleviate back pain

Dr. Jeff Winternheimer of the Illinois Back Institute has developed a revolutionary non-surgical procedure to alleviate back pain. Both professional athletes and everyday back and neck pain sufferers have been flocking to his four Chicago area clinics to see for themselves.

15 Apr 2011

Insight into Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Researchers at the Krembil Neuroscience Centre, Toronto Western Hospital have identified a cell receptor, which is responsible for cell death in the spinal cord in a condition called Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.

15 Apr 2011

Lanx announces initial launch of Durango Stand-Alone ALIF System

Lanx®, Inc., a privately held medical device company focused on developing and commercializing innovative devices for spinal surgery, today announced the initial launch of its Durango™ Stand-Alone ALIF System (Durango), following 510(k) clearance in February. The announcement was made at the 2011 American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.

12 Apr 2011

Artificial disc replacement may provide better long-term results at reduced cost

When physical therapy and drugs fail to relieve back or neck pain, patients often turn to spinal fusion surgery as a last resort, but two new studies show that in certain situations, especially when several discs are involved, artificial disc replacement may give better long-term results at lower cost.

23 Mar 2011

Medtronic launches VERTEX SELECT CHROMALOY Plus Rods in the U.S.

Continuing its leadership in cervical spine medical device therapies, Medtronic, Inc. today announced the U.S. launch of VERTEX SELECT CHROMALOY Plus Rods.

10 Mar 2011

FDA clears Zimmer TM-S Trabecular Metal Cervical Interbody Fusion Device

Zimmer Holdings, a leader in musculoskeletal care, today announced it has received FDA clearance for the TM-S Trabecular Metal Cervical Interbody Fusion Device.

19 Feb 2011

Study finds worse outcomes in workers undergoing spinal fusion surgery

For workers' compensation patients with chronic low back pain, spinal fusion surgery leads to worse long-term outcomes—including a lower rate of return to work—compared to nonsurgical treatment, suggests a study in the February 15th issue of Spine. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

16 Feb 2011

USPTO issues key patent to ISTO's NuQu product for degenerative disc disease treatment

ISTO Technologies, Inc. announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted the company a key patent covering the primary technology for ISTO's NuQu product.

7 Feb 2011

Researchers receive $100,000 NFL grant to study tissue engineering for spinal injuries

Researchers from Cornell University and Weill Cornell Medical College have been awarded $100,000 by NFL Charities, the charitable foundation of the National Football League owners, to research tissue engineering for spinal injuries.

22 Dec 2010

Early physical therapy associated with fewer subsequent injections, surgery, physician visits: Study

The American Physical Therapy Association is pointing to a new study on low back pain in Medicare patients in its efforts to encourage the newly established Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to promptly launch a demonstration project on direct access to physical therapist services that was recommended in the recent health reform law.

7 Dec 2010

Assessment by nurse practitioner satisfies patients with back problems: Study

Ninety-six per cent of patients with back problems were satisfied with the assessment carried out by a specially trained nurse practitioner, according to a study in the December issue of the Journal of Advanced Nursing.

20 Nov 2010

Back pain sufferers get quicker diagnosis and treatment when examined by Nurse Practitioner

Results of a Toronto Western Hospital study show that patients suffering back pain get quicker diagnosis and treatment when a Nurse Practitioner conducts the first examination. Traditionally, patients face long and anxiety-ridden wait times - up to 52 weeks - before an initial examination by a spine surgeon. Results from the year long TWH study showed wait times for patients examined by a Nurse Practitioner were significantly shorter, ranging from 10 to 21 weeks.

18 Nov 2010