Orthobiologic Management Options for Degenerative Disc Disease

TL;DR

This review explores regenerative therapies for degenerative disc disease, highlighting their potential to improve treatment outcomes beyond conventional methods.

Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of orthobiologic agents for DDD, emphasizing their regenerative potential and current clinical limitations.

Findings

Orthobiologics like platelet-rich plasma and stem cells show promise in treating degenerative disc disease.

Current clinical evidence is insufficient for widespread adoption due to limitations in study designs.

Further research is needed to optimize these therapies for consistent clinical outcomes.

Abstract

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a pervasive condition that limits quality of life and burdens economies worldwide. Conventional pharmacological treatments primarily aimed at slowing the progression of degeneration have demonstrated limited long-term efficacy and often do not address the underlying causes of the disease. On the other hand, orthobiologics are regenerative agents derived from the patient’s own tissue and represent a promising emerging therapy for degenerative disc disease. This review comprehensively outlines the pathophysiology of DDD, highlighting the inadequacies of existing pharmacological therapies and detailing the potential of orthobiologic approaches. It explores advanced tools such as platelet-rich plasma and mesenchymal stem cells, providing a historical overview of their development within regenerative medicine, from foundational in vitro studies to preclinical animal models. Moreover, the manuscript delves into clinical trials that assess the effectiveness of these therapies in managing DDD. While the current clinical evidence is promising, it remains insufficient for routine clinical adoption due to limitations in study designs. The review emphasizes the need for further research to optimize these therapies for consistent and effective clinical outcomes, potentially revolutionizing the management of DDD and offering renewed hope for patients.

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