Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Update on chemonucleolysis

M D Brown1

  • 1Department of the Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida, USA.

Spine
|December 15, 1996
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Chemonucleolysis using chymopapain is a safe and effective alternative to surgery for managing disc displacement, supported by extensive research. Other enzymes like collagenase and chondroitinase ABC also show promise for this minimally invasive procedure.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Posttransplant Skin Carcinoma-Fighting Immunosuppression by Local Immunostimulation: Guidelines for the Management of Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Organ Transplant Recipients. Dermatol Surg 30: 642-650, 2004.

Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN·2023
Same author

Reconciling Assumptions in Bottom-Up and Top-Down Approaches for Estimating Aerosol Emission Rates From Wildland Fires Using Observations From FIREX-AQ.

Journal of geophysical research. Atmospheres : JGR·2022
Same author

Detection of candidate biomarkers of prostate cancer progression in serum: a depletion-free 3D LC/MS quantitative proteomics pilot study.

British journal of cancer·2016
Same author

Characterising cytotoxic agent action as a function of the cell cycle using Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy.

The Analyst·2015
Same author

Enhanced FTIR bench-top imaging of single biological cells.

The Analyst·2015
Same author

In Memoriam: Olga Hudlická (11.07.26-03.05.14).

Microcirculation (New York, N.Y. : 1994)·2014
Same journal

Full-Body Radiographic Imaging-Based Thigh Muscle Measurement for Sarcopenia: Association with Functional Assessments and Sagittal Alignment in Adult Spinal Deformity Patients.

Spine·2026
Same journal

Biomechanical Effects of A Unilateral Transforaminal Endoscopic Approach for Lumbar Decompression: A Cadaveric Study.

Spine·2026
Same journal

Reply to the Letter to the Editor: "Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Statin Usage Are Associated With Rates of Pseudarthrosis Following Single-Level Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion".

Spine·2026
Same journal

Antipsychotic Medications are Associated with Higher Rates of Healthcare Utilization, Complications, Opioid Prescriptions, and Subsequent Cervical Surgery after Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Spine·2026
Same journal

Long-Term Mechanical Complications After Lumbar Fusion in Patients Receiving Tirzepatide vs Other GLP-1 Receptor Agonists.

Spine·2026
Same journal

Extended Postoperative Risk of Venous Thromboembolism After Degenerative Spine Surgery: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Spine·2026
See all related articles

Area of Science:

  • Minimally Invasive Spine Procedures
  • Enzyme-Based Therapeutics
  • Orthopedic Surgery

Background:

  • Chemonucleolysis is a procedure for managing disc displacement.
  • Chymopapain has been historically used for chemonucleolysis.
  • The regulatory, social, and medicolegal aspects of chemonucleolysis are important considerations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the global medical literature on chemonucleolysis.
  • To assess the current status of chemonucleolysis in disc displacement management.
  • To emphasize recent studies, meta-analyses, and historical perspectives.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive review of the world medical literature.
  • Emphasis on recent studies and meta-analyses.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of historical data from North America.
  • Main Results:

    • Chymopapain is supported by literature as a safe and effective alternative to surgical disc excision.
    • Efficacy of chymopapain is confirmed by long-term (≥10 years) prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials.
    • Safety of chymopapain injection versus surgery is demonstrated in meta-analyses and post-marketing surveillance.
    • Collagenase and chondroitinase ABC show potential for chemonucleolysis, with ongoing or preclinical research.

    Conclusions:

    • Chemonucleolysis with chymopapain is a well-established, safe, and effective treatment for disc displacement.
    • Further research and clinical trials are ongoing for alternative enzymes like collagenase and chondroitinase ABC.