Degenerative discs in the lower back can cause chronic pain and impair spine movement in patients. In an attempt to develop an effective treatment for this, researchers from Oklahoma have developed a mix of bone marrow cells and spinal disc tissue, known as viable disc allograft supplementation, which can be injected into the damaged site in the spine. The efficacy of this treatment was evaluated in a trial consisting of 50 patients injected with the allograft supplementation (n = 46) or saline (control; n = 4).
60% of the patients reported significant improvement (≥50%) in lower back pain three years after treatment. More than 70% of the patients reported a greater than 20-point reduction in the Oswestry Disability Index. Benefits of the treatment No incision or hospital stay required Reduces the need for opioids among such patients This new treatment provides an effective strategy…
