Intervertebral Disc Repair: Current Concepts

STUDY DESIGN: Review article. OBJECTIVE: A review of the literature on current strategies utilized in intervertebral regeneration and repair efforts. METHODS: A review of the literature and analysis of the data to provide an updated review on current concepts of intervertebral disc repair and regeneration efforts. RESULTS: Multiple regenerative strategies for intervertebral disc regeneration are being employed to reduce pain and improve quality of life. Current promising strategies include molecular therapy, gene therapy, cell-based therapy, and augmentation with biomaterials. Multiple clinical trials studying biologic, cell-based, and scaffold-based injectable therapies are currently being investigated. CONCLUSION: Low back pain due to intervertebral disc disease represents a significant health and societal burden. Current promising strategies include molecular therapy, gene therapy, cell-based therapy, and augmentation with biomaterials. To date, there are no Food and Drug Administration–approved intradiscal therapies for discogenic back pain, and there are no large randomized trials that have shown clinically significant improvement with any investigational regenerative treatment. Multiple clinical trials studying biologic, cell-based, or scaffold-based injectable therapies are being currently investigated.