Injection Volume Is a Better Predictor of Stiffness Restoration Than Injection Force in an In Vitro Study of Nucleus Augmentation of the Intervertebral Disc

ABSTRACT Purpose Nucleus augmentation has been proposed as an early‐stage intervention for intervertebral disc degeneration and involves the injection of a biomaterial into the nucleus to restore disc height and functionality. The aim of this work was to identify clinically relevant quantitative mea...

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Main Authors: J. P. Warren, A. R. Dixon, M. P. Culbert, A. Khan, M. Mengoni, R. K. Wilcox
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-06-01
Series:JOR Spine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/jsp2.70081
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author J. P. Warren
A. R. Dixon
M. P. Culbert
A. Khan
M. Mengoni
R. K. Wilcox
author_facet J. P. Warren
A. R. Dixon
M. P. Culbert
A. Khan
M. Mengoni
R. K. Wilcox
author_sort J. P. Warren
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Purpose Nucleus augmentation has been proposed as an early‐stage intervention for intervertebral disc degeneration and involves the injection of a biomaterial into the nucleus to restore disc height and functionality. The aim of this work was to identify clinically relevant quantitative measures that indicate the mechanical performance of the disc following nucleus augmentation. Method Bovine tail bone‐disc‐bone units (n = 22) were mechanically tested under cyclic loading sequentially in native, artificially degenerated, and treated states. Treatment involved injection of a peptide‐glycosaminoglycan mixture into the degenerated disc to a predetermined load using a syringe driver with an integrated force sensor. The stiffness restoration of the treatment was determined by comparing the biomechanical behavior of the native state to the treated state of each disc. The stiffness restoration was then compared against clinically quantifiable parameters. Results No significant biomechanical differences were observed between the native and treated states, but both were significantly different from the degenerated state. The force delivered during injection was found to ramp to a steady state, followed by a final rapid increase; however, all measures associated with injection force poorly correlated with the level of stiffness restoration. Volume injected and change in disc height from injection had the strongest relationship to stiffness restoration. Conclusion This work showed that measuring the injection force for injectable treatments of the disc can provide lower and upper limits for delivery, but direct measures are stronger indicators of disc stiffness restoration.
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spelling doaj-art-00945a2f76c3475ab039ccffa5700a712025-08-20T03:29:53ZengWileyJOR Spine2572-11432025-06-0182n/an/a10.1002/jsp2.70081Injection Volume Is a Better Predictor of Stiffness Restoration Than Injection Force in an In Vitro Study of Nucleus Augmentation of the Intervertebral DiscJ. P. Warren0A. R. Dixon1M. P. Culbert2A. Khan3M. Mengoni4R. K. Wilcox5University of Leeds, Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering Leeds UKUniversity of Leeds, Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering Leeds UKUniversity of Leeds, Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering Leeds UKLeeds Centre for Neurosciences, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Leeds UKUniversity of Leeds, Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering Leeds UKUniversity of Leeds, Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering Leeds UKABSTRACT Purpose Nucleus augmentation has been proposed as an early‐stage intervention for intervertebral disc degeneration and involves the injection of a biomaterial into the nucleus to restore disc height and functionality. The aim of this work was to identify clinically relevant quantitative measures that indicate the mechanical performance of the disc following nucleus augmentation. Method Bovine tail bone‐disc‐bone units (n = 22) were mechanically tested under cyclic loading sequentially in native, artificially degenerated, and treated states. Treatment involved injection of a peptide‐glycosaminoglycan mixture into the degenerated disc to a predetermined load using a syringe driver with an integrated force sensor. The stiffness restoration of the treatment was determined by comparing the biomechanical behavior of the native state to the treated state of each disc. The stiffness restoration was then compared against clinically quantifiable parameters. Results No significant biomechanical differences were observed between the native and treated states, but both were significantly different from the degenerated state. The force delivered during injection was found to ramp to a steady state, followed by a final rapid increase; however, all measures associated with injection force poorly correlated with the level of stiffness restoration. Volume injected and change in disc height from injection had the strongest relationship to stiffness restoration. Conclusion This work showed that measuring the injection force for injectable treatments of the disc can provide lower and upper limits for delivery, but direct measures are stronger indicators of disc stiffness restoration.https://doi.org/10.1002/jsp2.70081biomaterialsbiomechanicsintervertebral disc degenerationnucleus augmentationsurgical optimisation
spellingShingle J. P. Warren
A. R. Dixon
M. P. Culbert
A. Khan
M. Mengoni
R. K. Wilcox
Injection Volume Is a Better Predictor of Stiffness Restoration Than Injection Force in an In Vitro Study of Nucleus Augmentation of the Intervertebral Disc
JOR Spine
biomaterials
biomechanics
intervertebral disc degeneration
nucleus augmentation
surgical optimisation
title Injection Volume Is a Better Predictor of Stiffness Restoration Than Injection Force in an In Vitro Study of Nucleus Augmentation of the Intervertebral Disc
title_full Injection Volume Is a Better Predictor of Stiffness Restoration Than Injection Force in an In Vitro Study of Nucleus Augmentation of the Intervertebral Disc
title_fullStr Injection Volume Is a Better Predictor of Stiffness Restoration Than Injection Force in an In Vitro Study of Nucleus Augmentation of the Intervertebral Disc
title_full_unstemmed Injection Volume Is a Better Predictor of Stiffness Restoration Than Injection Force in an In Vitro Study of Nucleus Augmentation of the Intervertebral Disc
title_short Injection Volume Is a Better Predictor of Stiffness Restoration Than Injection Force in an In Vitro Study of Nucleus Augmentation of the Intervertebral Disc
title_sort injection volume is a better predictor of stiffness restoration than injection force in an in vitro study of nucleus augmentation of the intervertebral disc
topic biomaterials
biomechanics
intervertebral disc degeneration
nucleus augmentation
surgical optimisation
url https://doi.org/10.1002/jsp2.70081
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