Growth Factors and Anticatabolic Substances for Prevention and Management of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is frequent, appearing from the second decade of life and progressing with age. Conservative management often fails, and patients with IVD degeneration may need surgical intervention. Several treatment strategies have been proposed, although only surgical disce...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Umile Giuseppe Longo (Author), Stefano Petrillo (Author), Edoardo Franceschetti (Author), Nicola Maffulli (Author), Vincenzo Denaro (Author)
Format: Book
Published: Hindawi Limited, 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z.
Subjects:
Online Access:Connect to this object online.
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is frequent, appearing from the second decade of life and progressing with age. Conservative management often fails, and patients with IVD degeneration may need surgical intervention. Several treatment strategies have been proposed, although only surgical discectomy and arthrodesis have been proved to be predictably effective. Biological strategies aim to prevent and manage IVD degeneration, improving the function and anabolic and reparative capabilities of the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus cells and inhibiting matrix degradation. At present, clinical applications are still in their infancy. Further studies are required to clarify the role of growth factors and anticatabolic substances for prevention and management of intervertebral disc degeneration.
Item Description:1687-966X
1687-9678
10.1155/2012/897183