Nucleus pulposus replacement: basic science and indications for clinical use

A critical review of available and emerging nucleus pulposus replacement implants.

To review the biomechanics, design, and clinical data of currently available and developing nucleus pulposus replacement technologies.

The interest in minimally invasive treatment of degenerative disc disease has grown as the technology for intervertebral motion-sparing devices continues to improve. Replacement of nucleus pulposus without anular obliteration represents a tempting alternative to spinal fusion procedures. The aim in nucleus pulposus replacement is to slow adjacent level degeneration, restore normal loads to the diseased level, and restore segmental spinal biomechanics.

A literature review of currently available biomaterials, biomechanics, and available preclinical and clinical data on nucleus pulposus replacement implants.

New synthetic biomaterials have recently been developed to closely mimic native biomechanics during compressive loading cycles of the intervertebral disc. This, in conjunction with improved understanding of global spine biomechanics, has allowed the development of novel nucleus replacement implants. These implants are currently at different stages of preclinical and clinical investigations.

Although some of the newly designed prosthesis have shown some promising results in preclinical studies, rigorous short- and long-term clinical evaluations will be critical in evaluating their true efficacy.