Towards a Micromechanical Model of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Under Cyclic Loading

A number of activities subject the spinal cord [1] to various loading conditions that lead to disc degeneration. In this paper a brief overview on the understanding of the micromechanics and mechanisms of intervertebral disc degeneration is presented and extended to include water loss and disc height change. The focus is on a computational model of the intervertebral disc degeneration that attempts to capture the initiation and the progression of the damage mechanism under fatigue. This model can be used to study the effects on disc under short or long period biomechanical loading in work or combat environments.

Download Full-text

Ischemic Myelopathy Caused by Fibrocartilaginous Emboli in a Horse

Veterinary Pathology ◽

10.1177/030098587701400507 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. 479-481 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

H. W. Taylor ◽

M. Vandevelde ◽

E. C. Firth

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Nucleus Pulposus ◽

Disc Degeneration ◽

Outer Surface ◽

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ◽

Ischemic Infarct

A horse that suddenly became recumbent had a focal ischemic infarct of the spinal cord between C6 and C7. The infarct was attributed to multiple fibrocartilaginous emboli. Adherence of fibrocartilaginous debris to the outer surface of the dura was interpreted as evidence that intervertebral disc degeneration and displacement of the nucleus pulposus had occurred and that the emboli arose from the disc.

Download Full-text

Faculty Opinions recommendation of Novel function of TWEAK in inducing intervertebral disc degeneration.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.1095070.550070 ◽

2007 ◽

Author(s):

Helen Gruber

Keyword(s):

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Disc Degeneration ◽

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Download Full-text

INTERVERTEBRAL DISC DEGENERATION LINKED TO STRUCTURAL GENE VARIATIONS

Pakistan Journal of Medicine and Dentistry ◽

10.36283/pjmd8-4/012 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Saeeda Baig

Keyword(s):

Intervertebral Disc ◽

Disc Degeneration ◽

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ◽

English Language ◽

Tandem Repeats ◽

Lumbar Disc ◽

Disease Process ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Structural Protein ◽

Lumbar Disc Degeneration

During the recent past focus has shifted from identifying intervertebral disc degeneration as being caused by physical exposure and strain to being linked with a variety of genetic variations. The objective of this review is to provide an up to date review of the existing research data regarding the relation of intervertebral disc degeneration to structural protein genes and their polymorphisms and thus help clearly establish further avenues where research into causation and treatment is needed. A comprehensive search using the keywords “Collagen”, “COL”, “Aggrecan”, “AGC”, “IVDD”, “intervertebral disc degeneration”, and “lumbar disc degeneration” from PubMed and Google Scholar, where literature in the English language was selected spanning from 1991 to 2019. There are many genes involved in the production of structural components of an intervertebral disc. The issues in production of these components involve the over-expression or under-expression of their genes, and single nucleotide polymorphisms and variable number of tandem repeats affecting their structures. These structural genes include primarily the collagen and the aggrecan genes. While genetic and environmental factors all come into play with a disease process like disc degeneration, the bulk of research now shows the significantly larger impact of hereditary over exposure. While further research is needed into some of the lesser studied genes linked to IVDD and also the racial variations in genetic makeup, the focus in the near future should be on establishment of genetic testing to identify individuals at greater risk of disease and deliberation regarding the use of gene therapy to prevent disc degeneration.

Download Full-text