| abstract |
The intervertebral disc and a portion of adjacent vertebrae obtained from recently deceased human or animal donors are used to restore disc function and eliminate pain in patients with disc disease. Cells harvested and cultured from the nucleus pulposus and/or the annulus fibrosis of a normal disc are added to the donor disc. Additional therapeutic substances like culture medium, growth factors, differentiation factors, hydrogels polymers, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, or immunosuppressive medications may also be added to the transplanted disc unit. |