In our younger years, most of us have healthy spinal discs. These discs are filled with collagen fibers – often described as a soft, gel-like substance. They sit between the vertebrae and provide cushioning, which enables the spinal column to bend and flex without pain.
Over time, our discs can wear out with age and use, with deterioration and dehydration of the collagen fibers. They begin to lose their ability to absorb water and nutrients, leading to decreased disc height. This is known as disc degeneration or degenerative disc disease.
Disc Collapse with Disc Degeneration
As the collagen fibers inside a disc deteriorate and dry up, the disc begins to collapse. This enables the vertebrae on either side of the disc to get closer together. As the vertebrae get closer together, they and the additional joints and bones that support them experience more and more stress.
This stress can lead to pain that can range from mild to disabling. It can be felt in the lower back but can also affect the neck, buttocks, thighs, legs, and arms. Because it is often related to nerve issues, this pain can feel like it’s coming from different areas than the actual source in the spine.
Disc Anatomy
To set a foundation for our discussion, we should review the medical structure of discs. There are 23 discs in the spinal column, running from the base of the skull to the tailbone.
Each disc comprises two parts that work together to absorb and cushion the spine.
- The annulus fibrosus is a sturdy yet flexible outer layer of the disc.
- The nucleus pulposus fills the center of each disc – this soft, gel-like substance made up of collagen fibers acts as the spine’s shock absorber.
Think of a disc like a doughnut filled with jelly. The outside of the doughnut is like the annulus fibrosus outer layer. The jelly inside is like the nucleus pulposus center. As the jelly inside our illustrative disc doughnut begins to dry out and deteriorate with time, the outsides of the doughnut will start to collapse on itself.
Can a Disc’s Cushioning Function, Tissue Loss, and Height Be Restored?
A disc’s cushioning function, tissue loss, and height can be restored for some patients. There is a minimally invasive procedure intended for those who have experienced tissue loss within their lumbar intervertebral discs. It is called VIA Disc NP.
This procedure is designed for discs in the lumbar spine – the lower back. This part of the spinal column comprises five or six vertebrae (L1 through L5), the largest in the spine.
The VIA Disc NP procedure is an allograft, which means that Via Disc NP, healthy nucleus pulposus tissue is injected into the interior of a deteriorating disc. This Via Disc NP tissue is similar to a patient’s own nucleus pulposus tissue. It is intended to support the cushioning function of a disc, relieve pain, and rehydrate and supplement a patient’s tissue loss.
During this outpatient procedure, a doctor uses fluoroscopy imaging (x-ray guidance) and a spinal needle to deliver the allograft into the nucleus pulposus precisely.
Who Is a Good Candidate for the VIA Disc NP Procedure?
VIA Disc may be a good option for patients with chronic low back pain caused by degenerative disc disease. Other factors that may make a patient a good candidate include:
- Having an MRI that shows a degenerative disc.
- Having tried conservative care for at least six months without pain relief.
- Having experienced tissue loss within the lumbar intervertebral discs.
If degenerative disc disease is holding you back, you should fully explore the alternatives available to you to restore the quality of your life. VIA Disc NP may be one option if your doctor considers it appropriate for your case. Main Line Spine has been performing VIA Disc NP procedures for several years.
The Main Line Spine team is here to help you navigate your personalized path from clarity on your disc degeneration condition to appropriate treatments through recovery. Our patients find that we provide the highest standards of care with compassion, expertise, and unwavering dedication.