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Discogenic Low Back Pain
By Scott Haufe, M.D. and Anthony Mork, M.D.
MicroSpine Center, Florida
The most common cause of low back pain is due the vertebral discs. The disc s gradually decay as we age and this decay leads to the development of tears in the surface of the disc structure. Tears in the disc surface lead to mechanical pain from stretching type forces along the surface of the disc surface. A recent study by us at MicroSpine Center was performed in an attempt to rejuvenate the disc utilizing stem cells.
The procedure involved the aspiration of 5cc of bone marrow cells from the patient. This aspirate was then injected into the disc that was confirmed to be disease via prior discogram. This was confirmed via fluoroscopy.
Post the procedure the patient underwent a two hyperbaric oxygen therapy to increase oxygen to the disc. Patients were then followed up on a 3 month basis for two years. During the study it was noticed that none of the patients developed any improvement of their back pain.
Although the study technically did not resolve any of the patients back pain, it did elaborate on what is not effective. The stem cells utilize were probably not sufficient in rejuvenating the disc. It is thus planned to repeat the study with a Mesenchymal stem cell line which may prove more promising. The Mesenchymal stem cell group should have more viable cells per millimeter and thus may prove more effective.
Plans to perform the study are projected next year. For more information, please contact the MicroSpine Surgery Center in Florida. or www.microspine.com.
Other useful links: www.microspinoscopy.com www.neuroscopy.org www.microspinoscopy.org www.laserspine.net www.spineinstruments.com www.flightinstruments.net
www.doctorbuzz.com www.neuroscopy.net www.mritoday.net