Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hyaluronic acid on the stability of the functional spinal unit (FSU) after discectomy.
The study included 20 Cercopithecus monkeys. Through a left retroperitoneal approach, four FSUs were exposed and nucleotomy performed. On one level a simple nucleotomy was done, while hyaluronic acid was inserted into one space, hylaform into another, and hylaform and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 into the fourth. The specimens were evaluated radiologically and histologically at the University of Marburg, Germany.
The vertebral height of all segments remained mostly unchanged. Insertion of hylaform with BMP-2 led to ossification in 30%. There was no ossification after insertion of hyaluronic acid alone or in 10% of simple nucleotomies.
The insertion of hyaluronic acid shows a promising capability of preventing disc collapse after nucleotomy and may enhance the favourable outcome of minimally invasive procedures.
The abstracts were prepared by Professor M. B. E. Sweet. Correspondence should be addressed to him at The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical School, University of Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193 South Africa
