| 摘要 |
A method of treating a diseased or traumatized intervertebral disc is based upon the transplantation of one or more dehydrated biologic tissues into the disc space. In the preferred embodiment, dehydrated nucleus pulposis tissue is used, which may be combined with live nucleus cells. The dehydration allows the insertion of the transplanted cells and/or tissue through a smaller annular hole. Dehydration also decreases the volume of the material transferred, thus allowing the surgeon to insert more into the disc space. Once in the body, the materials hydrate by imbibing fluid from the surrounding area. In the case of nucleus pulposis tissue, the subsequent hydration helps to restore disc height and help prevent extrusion of disc material through the hole in the annulus. One or more therapeutic substances may be added, including culture media, growth factors, differentiation factors, hydrogels, polymers, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, or immunosuppressive medications. These additional substances may or may not be dehydrated as well, depending upon efficacy, initial versus final volume, and so forth.
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