Treatment of Discogenic Low Back Pain: Current Treatment Strategies and Future Options—a Literature Review

Identification of Biomarkers, Pathways, Immune Properties of Mitophagy Genes, and Prediction Models for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Background

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is the leading cause of low back pain (LBP). The mechanism of IDD development and progression is not fully understood. Peripheral biomarkers are increasingly vital non-radioactive methods in early detection and diagnosis for IDD. Nevertheless, less attention has been paid to the role of mitophagy genes in the progress of IDD. This study aimed to identify the mitophagy disease-causing genes in the process of IDD and mitophagy diagnostic biomarkers for IDD.

Methods

Mitophagy-related differentially expressed genes (MRDEGs) related to IDD were investigated by analyzing the microarray datasets of IDD cases from GEO, PathCards and Molecular Signatures Databases. We used R software, WGCNA, PPI, mRNA-miRNA, mRNA-TF, GO, KEGG, GSEA, GSVA and Cytoscape to analyze and visualize the data. We further used ssGSEA for immunoinfiltration analysis to obtain different immune cell infiltration. LASSO model was developed to screen for genes that met the diagnostic gene model requirements. Finally, qRT-PCR, Western blotting and HE were used to verify hub genes and their expression from clinical IDD samples.

Results

We identified 14 MRDEGs and 12 hub genes. GO, KEGG, GSEA and GSVA analyses demonstrated that hub genes were critical for the development of IDD. LASSO diagnostic model consisted of six hub genes, among which SQSTM1, ATG7 and OPTN were significantly different between the two IDD disease subtypes. At the same time, SQSTM1 also had a high correlation with immune characteristic subtypes. The results of qRT-PCR and Western blotting also indicated that these genes were significantly differentially expressed in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) of the IDD group.

Conclusion

We explored an association between MRDEGs-associated signature in IDD and validated that hub genes like SQSTM1 might serve as biomarkers for diagnostic and therapeutic targets for IDD. Meanwhile, this study can provide new insights into the functional characteristics and mechanism of mitophagy in the development of IDD.

Intradiscal Steroid Injections for Degenerative Disc Disease With Modic Changes: A Retrospective Study of Therapeutic and Diagnostic Features

PURPOSE

Anterior column pain refers to axial low back pain (LBP) originating from the intervertebral disc or vertebral endplates (discogenic or vertebrogenic pain). We sought to assess the safety and effectiveness of intradiscal steroid injection (IDSI) in diagnosing and treating patients with LBP arising from the anterior column.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective chart review of 66 patients who underwent 77 injections in an outpatient, private practice setting for the treatment of chronic lower back with history and physical exam findings indicating an origin within the anterior column and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of Modic changes associated with disc degeneration of grade 4 or above on the modified Pfirrmann scale. Patients reported pain as measured by the numerical rating scale (NRS) before the injection, at the time of their follow-up, and their maximum pain relief. The primary outcome was the change in NRS before and after the injections. The secondary outcome determined if the changes in the subjects' NRS met the minimal clinically important change (MCIC) criteria for LBP. We conducted a statistical analysis using a paired sample t-test.

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant difference between the pre-injection and follow-up NRS scores (p < 0.001) and a significant difference between pre-injection and maximum relief NRS scores (p < 0.001). Most subjects (55/77, 71.4%) met the MCIC to relieve their chronic LBP at the time of the follow-up evaluation.

CONCLUSION

For patients with chronic LBP and degenerative endplate changes, IDSIs provided these patients with significant short-term pain relief from pain arising from the anterior column.

Mechanically tough, adhesive, self-healing hydrogel promotes annulus fibrosus repair via autologous cell recruitment and microenvironment regulation

Annulus fibrosus (AF) defect is an important cause of disc re-herniation after discectomy. The self-regeneration ability of the AF is limited, and AF repair is always hindered by the inflammatory microenvironment after injury. Hydrogels represent one of the most promising materials for AF tissue engineering strategies. However, currently available commercial hydrogels cannot withstand the harsh mechanical load within intervertebral disc. In the present study, an innovative triple cross-linked oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA)-dopamine (DA)- polyacrylamide (PAM) composite hydrogel, modified with collagen mimetic peptide (CMP) and supplied with transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) (OHA-DA-PAM/CMP/TGF-β1 hydrogel) was developed for AF regeneration. The hydrogel exhibited robust mechanical strength, strong bioadhesion, and significant self-healing capabilities. Modified with collagen mimetic peptide, the hydrogel exhibited extracellular-matrix-mimicking properties and sustained the AF cell phenotype. The sustained release of TGF-β1 from the hydrogel was pivotal in recruiting AF cells and promoting extracellular matrix production. Furthermore, the composite hydrogel attenuated LPS-induced inflammatory response and promote ECM synthesis in AF cells via suppressing NFκB/NLRP3 pathway. In vivo, the composite hydrogel successfully sealed AF defects and alleviated intervertebral disk degeneration in a rat tail AF defect model. Histological evaluation showed that the hydrogel integrated well with host tissue and facilitated AF repair. The strategy of recruiting endogenous cells and providing an extracellular-matrix-mimicking and anti-inflammatory microenvironment using the mechanically tough composite OHA-DA-PAM/CMP/TGF-β1 hydrogel may be applicable for AF defect repair in the clinic. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Annulus fibrosus (AF) repair is challenging due to its limited self-regenerative capacity and post-injury inflammation. In this study, a mechanically tough and highly bioadhesive triple cross-linked composite hydrogel, modified with collagen mimetic peptide (CMP) and supplemented with transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), was developed to facilitate AF regeneration. The sustained release of TGF-β1 enhanced AF cell recruitment, while both TGF-β1 and CMP could modulate the microenvironment to promote AF cell proliferation and ECM synthesis. In vivo, this composite hydrogel effectively promoted the AF repair and mitigated the intervertebral disc degeneration. This research indicates the clinical potential of the OHA-DA-PAM/CMP/TGF-β1 composite hydrogel for repairing AF defects.

Stress-Activated Protein Kinases in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: Unraveling the Impact of JNK and p38 MAPK

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a major cause of lower back pain. The pathophysiological development of IDD is closely related to the stimulation of various stressors, including proinflammatory cytokines, abnormal mechanical stress, oxidative stress, metabolic abnormalities, and DNA damage, among others. These factors prevent normal intervertebral disc (IVD) development, reduce the number of IVD cells, and induce senescence and apoptosis. Stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs), particularly, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), control cell signaling in response to cellular stress. Previous studies have shown that these proteins are highly expressed in degenerated IVD tissues and are involved in complex biological signal-regulated processes. Therefore, we summarize the research reports on IDD related to JNK and p38 MAPK. Their structure, function, and signal regulation mechanisms are comprehensively and systematically described and potential therapeutic targets are proposed. This work could provide a reference for future research and help improve molecular therapeutic strategies for IDD.

Polymeric Nanoparticles Enable mRNA Transfection and Its Translation in Intervertebral Disc and Human Joint Cells, Except for M1 Macrophages

Chronic lower back pain caused by intervertebral disc degeneration and osteoarthritis (OA) are highly prevalent chronic diseases. Although pain management and surgery can alleviate symptoms, no disease-modifying treatments are available. mRNA delivery could halt inflammation and degeneration and induce regeneration by overexpressing anti-inflammatory cytokines or growth factors involved in cartilage regeneration. Here, we investigated poly(amidoamine)-based polymeric nanoparticles to deliver mRNA to human joint and intervertebral disc cells. Human OA chondrocytes, human nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, human annulus fibrosus (AF) cells, fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and M1-like macrophages were cultured and transfected with uncoated or PGA-PEG-coated nanoparticles loaded with EGFP-encoding mRNA. Cell viability and transfection efficiency were analyzed for all cell types. Nanoparticle internalization was investigated in FLS and M1-like macrophages. No significant decrease in cell viability was observed in most conditions. Only macrophages showed a dose-dependent reduction of viability. Transfection with either nanoparticle version resulted in EGFP expression in NP cells, AF cells, OA chondrocytes and FLS. Macrophages showed internalization of nanoparticles by particle-cell co-localization, but no detectable expression of EGFP. Taken together, our data show that poly (amidoamine)-based nanoparticles can be used for mRNA delivery into cells of the human joint and intervertebral disc, indicating its potential future use as an mRNA delivery system in OA and IVDD, except for macrophages.

Potential of Dual-Energy CT-Based Collagen Maps for the Assessment of Disk Degeneration in the Lumbar Spine

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Lumbar disk degeneration is a common condition contributing significantly to back pain. The objective of the study was to evaluate the potential of dual-energy CT (DECT)-derived collagen maps for the assessment of lumbar disk degeneration.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 127 patients who underwent dual-source DECT and MRI of the lumbar spine between 07/2019 and 10/2022. The level of lumbar disk degeneration was categorized by three radiologists as follows: no/mild (Pfirrmann 1&2), moderate (Pfirrmann 3&4), and severe (Pfirrmann 5). Recall (sensitivity) and accuracy of DECT collagen maps were calculated. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate inter-reader reliability. Subjective evaluations were performed using 5-point Likert scales for diagnostic confidence and image quality.

RESULTS

We evaluated a total of 762 intervertebral disks from 127 patients (median age, 69.7 (range, 23.0-93.7), female, 56). MRI identified 230 non/mildly degenerated disks (30.2%), 484 moderately degenerated disks (63.5%), and 48 severely degenerated disks (6.3%). DECT collagen maps yielded an overall accuracy of 85.5% (1955/2286). Recall (sensitivity) was 79.3% (547/690) for the detection of no/mild lumbar disk degeneration, 88.7% (1288/1452) for the detection of moderate disk degeneration, and 83.3% (120/144) for the detection of severe disk degeneration (ICC=0.9). Subjective evaluations of DECT collagen maps showed high diagnostic confidence (median 4) and good image quality (median 4).

CONCLUSION

The use of DECT collagen maps to distinguish different stages of lumbar disk degeneration may have clinical significance in the early diagnosis of disk-related pathologies in patients with contraindications for MRI or in cases of unavailability of MRI.

Reviving Intervertebral Discs: Treating Degeneration Using Advanced Delivery Systems

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is commonly associated with many spinal problems, such as low back pain, and significantly impacts a patient's quality of life. However, current treatments for IVDD, which include conservative and surgical methods, are limited in their ability to fully address degeneration. To combat IVDD, delivery-system-based therapy has received extensive attention from researchers. These delivery systems can effectively deliver therapeutic agents for IVDD, overcoming the limitations of these agents, reducing leakage and increasing local concentration to inhibit IVDD or promote intervertebral disc (IVD) regeneration. This review first briefly introduces the structure and function of the IVD, and the related pathophysiology of IVDD. Subsequently, the roles of drug-based and bioactive-substance-based delivery systems in IVDD are highlighted. The former includes natural source drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid medications, and other small molecular drugs. The latter includes chemokines, growth factors, interleukin, and platelet-rich plasma. Additionally, gene-based and cell-based delivery systems are briefly involved. Finally, the limitations and future development of the combination of therapeutic agents and delivery systems in the treatment of IVDD are discussed, providing insights for future research.

Mechanical Factors Regulate Annulus Fibrosus (AF) Injury Repair and Remodeling: A Review

Low back pain is a common chronic disease that can severely affect the patient's work and daily life. The breakdown of spinal mechanical homeostasis caused by intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a leading cause of low back pain. Annulus fibrosus (AF), as the outer layer structure of the IVD, is often the first affected part. AF injury caused by consistent stress overload will further accelerate IVD degeneration. Therefore, regulating AF injury repair and remodeling should be the primary goal of the IVD repair strategy. Mechanical stimulation has been shown to promote AF regeneration and repair, but most studies only focus on the effect of single stress on AF, and lack realistic models and methods that can mimic the actual mechanical environment of AF. In this article, we review the effects of different types of stress stimulation on AF injury repair and remodeling, suggest possible beneficial load combinations, and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. It will provide the theoretical basis for designing better tissue engineering therapy using mechanical factors to regulate AF injury repair and remodeling in the future.

Current status and development direction of immunomodulatory therapy for intervertebral disk degeneration

Intervertebral disk (IVD) degeneration (IVDD) is a main factor in lower back pain, and immunomodulation plays a vital role in disease progression. The IVD is an immune privileged organ, and immunosuppressive molecules in tissues reduce immune cell (mainly monocytes/macrophages and mast cells) infiltration, and these cells can release proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, disrupting the IVD microenvironment and leading to disease progression. Improving the inflammatory microenvironment in the IVD through immunomodulation during IVDD may be a promising therapeutic strategy. This article reviews the normal physiology of the IVD and its degenerative mechanisms, focusing on IVDD-related immunomodulation, including innate immune responses involving Toll-like receptors, NOD-like receptors and the complement system and adaptive immune responses that regulate cellular and humoral immunity, as well as IVDD-associated immunomodulatory therapies, which mainly include mesenchymal stem cell therapies, small molecule therapies, growth factor therapies, scaffolds, and gene therapy, to provide new strategies for the treatment of IVDD.

Comparative histopathological analysis of age-associated intervertebral disc degeneration in CD-1 and C57BL/6 mice: Anatomical and sex-based differences

Background

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a major contributor to back pain and disability. The cause of IVD degeneration is multifactorial, with no disease-modifying treatments. Mouse models are commonly used to study IVD degeneration; however, the effects of anatomical location, strain, and sex on the progression of age-associated degeneration are poorly understood.

Methods

A longitudinal study was conducted to characterize age-, anatomical-, and sex-specific differences in IVD degeneration in two commonly used strains of mice, C57BL/6 and CD-1. Histopathological evaluation of the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and caudal regions of mice at 6, 12, 20, and 24 months of age was conducted by two blinded observers at each IVD for the nucleus pulposus (NP), annulus fibrosus (AF), and the NP/AF boundary compartments, enabling analysis of scores by tissue compartment, summed scores for each IVD, or averaged scores for each anatomical region.

Results

C57BL/6 mice displayed mild IVD degeneration until 24 months of age; at this point, the lumbar spine demonstrated the most degeneration compared to other regions. Degeneration was detected earlier in the CD-1 mice (20 months of age) in both the thoracic and lumbar spine. In CD-1 mice, moderate to severe degeneration was noted in the cervical spine at all time points assessed. In both strains, age-associated IVD degeneration in the thoracic and lumbar spine was associated with increased histopathological scores in all IVD compartments. In both strains, minimal degeneration was detected in caudal IVDs out to 24 months of age. Both C57BL/6 and CD-1 mice displayed sex-specific differences in the presentation and progression of age-associated IVD degeneration.

Conclusions

These results showed that the progression and severity of age-associated degeneration in mouse models is associated with marked differences based on anatomical region, sex, and strain. This information provides a fundamental baseline characterization for users of mouse models to enable effective and appropriate experimental design, interpretation, and comparison between studies.

Emodin ameliorates matrix degradation and apoptosis in nucleus pulposus cells and attenuates intervertebral disc degeneration through LRP1 in vitro and in vivo

Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability worldwide, with a strong correlation to intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Inflammation-induced extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation plays a major role in IDD's progression. Emodin, known for its anti-inflammatory effects and ability to inhibit ECM degradation in osteoarthritis, but its role in IDD is unclear. Our study aimed to explore emodin's role and mechanisms on IDD both in vivo and in vitro. We discovered that emodin positively regulated anabolic markers (COL2A1, aggrecan) and negatively impacted catabolic markers (MMP3, MMP13) in nucleus pulposus cells, while also inhibiting cell apoptosis under inflammation environment. We revealed that emodin inhibits inflammation-induced NF-ĸB activation by suppressing the degradation of LRP1 via the proteasome pathway. Additionally, LRP1 was validated as essential to emodin's regulation of ECM metabolism and apoptosis, both in vitro and in vivo. Ultimately, we demonstrated that emodin effectively alleviates IDD in a rat model. Our findings uncover the novel pathway of emodin inhibiting ECM degradation and apoptosis through the inhibition of NF-κB via LRP1, thus alleviating IDD. This study not only broadens our understanding of emodin's role and mechanism in IDD treatment but also guides future therapeutic interventions.

Understanding Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: Background Factors and the Role of Initial Injury

The etiology of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is complex and multifactorial, and it is still not fully understood. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of IVDD will help to improve treatment regimens and avoid unnecessary surgical aggression. In order to summarize recent research data on IVDD pathogenesis, including genetic and immune factors, a literature review was conducted. The pathogenesis of IVDD is a complex multifactorial process without an evident starting point. There are extensive data on the role of the different genetic factors affecting the course of the disease, such as mutations in structural proteins and enzymes involved in the immune response. However, these factors alone are not sufficient for the development of the disease. Nevertheless, like mechanical damage, they can also be considered risk factors for IVDD. In conclusion, currently, there is no consensus on a single concept for the pathogenesis of IVDD. We consider the intervertebral disc autoimmune damage hypothesis to be the most promising hypothesis for clinicians, because it can be extrapolated to all populations and does not counteract other factors. The genetic factors currently known do not allow for building effective predictive models; however, they can be used to stratify the risks of individual populations.

Placebo Response among Different Types of Sham Acupuncture for Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND

Low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent and debilitating condition that poses a significant burden on healthcare systems. Acupuncture has been proposed as a promising intervention for LBP, but the evidence supporting its specific effect is insufficient, and the use of sham acupuncture as a control in clinical trials presents challenges due to variations in sham acupuncture techniques and the magnitude of the placebo effect.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the magnitude of the placebo response of sham acupuncture in trials of acupuncture for nonspecific LBP, and to assess whether different types of sham acupuncture are associated with different responses.

METHODS

Four databases including PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library were searched through April 15, 2023, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included if they randomized patients with LBP to receive acupuncture or sham acupuncture intervention. The main outcomes included the placebo response in pain intensity, back-specific function and quality of life. Placebo response was defined as the change in these outcome measures from baseline to the end of treatment. Random-effects models were used to synthesize the results, standardized mean differences (SMDs, Hedges'g) were applied to estimate the effect size.

RESULTS

A total of 18 RCTs with 3,321 patients were included. Sham acupuncture showed a noteworthy pooled placebo response in pain intensity in patients with LBP [SMD -1.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.95 to -0.91, I2=89%]. A significant placebo response was also shown in back-specific functional status (SMD -0.49, 95% CI -0.70 to -0.29, I2=73%), but not in quality of life (SMD 0.34, 95% CI -0.20 to 0.88, I2=84%). Trials in which the sham acupuncture penetrated the skin or performed with regular needles had a significantly higher placebo response in pain intensity reduction, but other factors such as the location of sham acupuncture did not have a significant impact on the placebo response.

CONCLUSIONS

Sham acupuncture is associated with a large placebo response in pain intensity among patients with LBP. Researchers should also be aware that the types of sham acupuncture applied may potentially impact the evaluation of the efficacy of acupuncture. Nonetheless, considering the nature of placebo response, the effect of other contextual factors cannot be ruled out in this study. (PROSPERO registration No. CRD42022304416).

Intervertebral disc degeneration and inflammatory microenvironment: expression, pathology, and therapeutic strategies

BACKGROUND

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a leading cause of low back pain (LBP), posing a significant socioeconomic burden. Recent studies highlight the crucial role of inflammatory microenvironment in IDD progression.

METHOD

A keyword-based search was performed using the PubMed database for published articles.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Dysregulated expression of inflammatory cytokines disrupts intervertebral disc (IVD) homeostasis, causing atrophy, fibrosis, and phenotypic changes in nucleus pulposus cells. Modulating the inflammatory microenvironment and restoring cytokine balance hold promise for IVD repair and regeneration. This comprehensive review systematically examines the expression regulation, pathological effects, therapeutic strategies, and future challenges associated with the inflammatory microenvironment and relevant cytokines in IDD. Key inflammatory cytokines, including interleukins (IL), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and chemokines, exhibit significant pathological effects in IDD. Furthermore, major therapeutic modalities such as chemical antagonists, biologics, plant extracts, and gene transcription therapies are introduced to control and ameliorate the inflammatory microenvironment. These approaches provide valuable insights for identifying potential targets in future anti-inflammatory treatments for IDD.

Nonviral overexpression of Scleraxis or Mohawk drives reprogramming of degenerate human annulus fibrosus cells from a diseased to a healthy phenotype

Background

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a major contributor to low back pain (LBP), yet there are no clinical therapies targeting the underlying pathology. The annulus fibrosus (AF) plays a critical role in maintaining IVD structure/function and undergoes degenerative changes such as matrix catabolism and inflammation. Thus, therapies targeting the AF are crucial to fully restore IVD function. Previously, we have shown nonviral delivery of transcription factors to push diseased nucleus pulposus cells to a healthy phenotype. As a next step in a proof-of-concept study, we report the use of Scleraxis (SCX) and Mohawk (MKX), which are critical for the development, maintenance, and regeneration of the AF and may have therapeutic potential to induce a healthy, pro-anabolic phenotype in diseased AF cells.

Methods

MKX and SCX plasmids were delivered via electroporation into diseased human AF cells from autopsy specimens and patients undergoing surgery for LBP. Transfected cells were cultured over 14 days and assessed for cell morphology, viability, density, gene expression of key phenotypic, inflammatory, matrix, pain markers, and collagen accumulation.

Results

AF cells demonstrated a fibroblastic phenotype posttreatment. Moreover, transfection of SCX and MKX resulted in significant upregulation of the respective genes, as well as SOX9. Transfected autopsy cells demonstrated upregulation of core extracellular matrix markers; however, this was observed to a lesser effect in surgical cells. Matrix-degrading enzymes and inflammatory cytokines were downregulated, suggesting a push toward a pro-anabolic, anti-inflammatory phenotype. Similarly, pain markers were downregulated over time in autopsy cells. At the protein level, collagen content was increased in both MKX and SCX transfected cells compared to controls.

Conclusions

This exploratory study demonstrates the potential of MKX or SCX to drive reprogramming in mild to moderately degenerate AF cells from autopsy and severely degenerate AF cells from surgical patients toward a healthy phenotype and may be a potential nonviral gene therapy for LBP.

Review: Discogenic Back Pain: Update on Treatment

Purpose of Review

Lower back pain (LBP) has a lifetime prevalence of 80% in the United States population. Discogenic back pain (DBP), a subcategory of LBP, occurs as a result of the interverbal disc degeneration without disc herniation. Diagnosis relies on history, physical exam, and imaging such as MRI, provocative discography, or CT discography.

Recent Findings

Treatment of DBP involves a multifaceted approach with an emphasis on conservative measures including behavioral modification, pharmacologic management, and other non-pharmacologic interventions with invasive therapy reserved for select patients. Due to the paucity of data on the treatment of DBP, treatment also relies on data derived from treatment of chronic LBP (CLBP).

Summary

Despite the scarcity of data for the treatment of DBP, treatments do exist with varying efficacy for DBP. Novel techniques such as the use of biologics may provide another avenue for treatment though further studies are needed to better evaluate the most efficacious regimen for both novel and existing treatments.

Abnormal brain activity in lumbar disc herniation patients with chronic pain is associated with their clinical symptoms

Introduction

Lumbar disc herniation, a chronic degenerative disease, is one of the major contributors to chronic low back pain and disability. Although many studies have been conducted in the past on brain function in chronic low back pain, most of these studies did not classify chronic low back pain (cLBP) patients according to their etiology. The lack of etiologic classification may lead to inconsistencies between findings, and the correlation between differences in brain activation and clinical symptoms in patients with cLBP was less studied in the past.

Methods

In this study, 36 lumbar disc herniation patients with chronic low back pain (LDHCP) and 36 healthy controls (HCs) were included to study brain activity abnormalities in LDHCP. Visual analogue scale (VAS), oswestry disability index (ODI), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), self-rating depression scale (SDS) were used to assess clinical symptoms.

Results

The results showed that LDHCP patients exhibited abnormally increased and diminished activation of brain regions compared to HCs. Correlation analysis showed that the amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) in the left middle frontal gyrus is negatively correlated with SAS and VAS, while the right superior temporal gyrus is positively correlated with SAS and VAS, the dorsolateral left superior frontal gyrus and the right middle frontal gyrus are negatively correlated with VAS and SAS, respectively.

Conclusion

LDHCP patients have brain regions with abnormally increased and abnormally decreased activation compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, some of the abnormally activated brain regions were correlated with clinical pain or emotional symptoms.

The Clinical Efficacy of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma Interventional Circulatory Perfusion Combined with Radiofrequency Ablation and Thermocoagulation in the Treatment of Discogenic Low Back Pain

Objective

In this study, we aimed to explore the efficacy of the autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) interventional circulatory perfusion combined with radiofrequency ablation and thermocoagulation (RFAT) in the treatment of discogenic low back pain (DLBP).

Methods

From January 2020 to November 2022, 158 patients of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University were selected as the study subjects, and 24 patients met the exclusion criteria. The 134 patients who met the inclusion criteria were divided into 65 patients in the control group (3 patients lost to follow-up) and 69 patients in the observation group (5 patients lost to follow-up), so 126 patients were actually completed the study, including 62 patients in the control group and 64 patients in the observation group. The control group responsible disc received RFAT, and an interventional circulatory perfusion was performed; the observation group received RFAT, and an interventional circulatory perfusion was performed, and then autologous PRP 2 ml was injected. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were performed before and 4 and 8 weeks after treatment, and the efficacy was evaluated at 4 and 8 weeks after treatment. The changes of lumbar disc MRI before and after treatment were observed.

Results

The differences in the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) between the observation group and the control group before the treatment were not statistically significant (P > 0.05 in both). However, four weeks and eight weeks after the treatment, the VAS scores and the ODIs were significantly lower in both groups than those before the treatment (P < 0.05 in both). In terms of the therapeutic efficacy, eight weeks after the treatment, the total effective rates in the control group and the observation group were 67.7% and 87.5%, respectively, with the observation group being superior to the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

After RFAT, interventional circulatory perfusion combined with autologous PRP intramedullary injection in the lumbar disc is a safe and effective treatment for DLBP, and it had superior long-term effects in improving the clinical symptoms and patient dysfunction than the RFAT and interventional circulatory perfusion.

An Effectiveness Evaluation of Nucleo-Annuloplasty for Lumbar Discogenic Lesions Using Disc-FX: A Scoping Review

Background and Objectives: Degenerative disk disease is a widespread chronic condition that causes diskogenic pain. Diskogenic pain can be treated with various therapy methods. Disc-FX is a revolutionary, minimally invasive, percutaneous nucleo-annuloplasty method that combines manual diskectomy with nuclear and annular remodeling using radiofrequency ablation to relieve diskogenic pain. In this study, the technical features, clinical outcomes, and complications of Disc-FX are summarized. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature review was performed. By exploring several databases, we collected studies on Disc-FX for treating diskogenic pain. The outcomes included perioperative data, clinical results, and complications. Results: In the 15 studies included, data from 570 patients were collected. L4-L5 was the most frequently operated level, and most cases underwent single-level procedures. The follow-up period for these patients ranged from 2 months to 24 months. One study reported a procedure time between 35 and 60 min, whereas the remaining studies reported a procedure time of less than 30 min. The mean visual analog scale score decreased from 7.22 preoperatively to 1.81 at the final follow-up. The mean numerical rating scale score decreased from 6.98 preoperatively to 3.9 at the final follow-up. The mean Japanese Orthopaedic Association score improved from 16.26 preoperatively to 25.88 in the final follow-up. The mean Oswestry Disability Index score decreased from 35.37 preoperatively to 14.66 at the final follow-up. The mean satisfaction rate (based on the Macnab criteria) was 87.6% (range, 78.4-95.2%). The total incidence of postoperative transient pain was 8.77% (50/570) after nucleo-annuloplasty using Disc-FX, and recurrence was 1.58% (9/570). Conclusions: According to our comprehensive evaluation, using percutaneous nucleo-annuloplasty for treating lumbar diskogenic diseases provided considerable pain alleviation and improved functional outcomes with fewer complications. Disc-FX is a safe and effective procedure that is a good treatment option for patients with diskogenic pain.

Machine Learning Assisting the Prediction of Clinical Outcomes following Nucleoplasty for Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease

BACKGROUND

Lumbar degenerative disc disease (LDDD) is a leading cause of chronic lower back pain; however, a lack of clear diagnostic criteria and solid LDDD interventional therapies have made predicting the benefits of therapeutic strategies challenging. Our goal is to develop machine learning (ML)-based radiomic models based on pre-treatment imaging for predicting the outcomes of lumbar nucleoplasty (LNP), which is one of the interventional therapies for LDDD.

METHODS

The input data included general patient characteristics, perioperative medical and surgical details, and pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results from 181 LDDD patients receiving lumbar nucleoplasty. Post-treatment pain improvements were categorized as clinically significant (defined as a ≥80% decrease in the visual analog scale) or non-significant. To develop the ML models, T2-weighted MRI images were subjected to radiomic feature extraction, which was combined with physiological clinical parameters. After data processing, we developed five ML models: support vector machine, light gradient boosting machine, extreme gradient boosting, extreme gradient boosting random forest, and improved random forest. Model performance was measured by evaluating indicators, such as the confusion matrix, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1 score, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), which were acquired using an 8:2 allocation of training to testing sequences.

RESULTS

Among the five ML models, the improved random forest algorithm had the best performance, with an accuracy of 0.76, a sensitivity of 0.69, a specificity of 0.83, an F1 score of 0.73, and an AUC of 0.77. The most influential clinical features included in the ML models were pre-operative VAS and age. In contrast, the most influential radiomic features had the correlation coefficient and gray-scale co-occurrence matrix.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed an ML-based model for predicting pain improvement after LNP for patients with LDDD. We hope this tool will provide both doctors and patients with better information for therapeutic planning and decision-making.

Clinical outcome and MRI appearance in a group of chronic low back pain patients more than 10 years after discography evaluation and consideration for surgery

BACKGROUND

It is an ongoing debate whether fusion surgery is superior to non-operative treatment for non-specific low back pain (LBP) in terms of patient outcome. Further, the evidence for how signs of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) correlate with patient outcome is insufficient. Longitudinal studies of low back pain (LBP) patients are thus of interest for increased knowledge. The aim of this study was to investigate long-term MRI appearance in LBP patients 11-14 years after discography.

METHODS

In 2021, 30 LBP patients who had same-day discography and MRI in 2007-2010 were asked to undergo MRI (Th12/L1-L5/S1), complete visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ5D) questionnaires. Patients who had fusion surgery before the follow-up were compared with those without such surgery. MRIs were evaluated on Pfirrmann grade, endplate classification score (EPS), and High Intensity Zones (HIZ). For each disk it was noted if injected at baseline or not.

RESULTS

Of 17 participants (6 male;mean age 58.5 years, range 49-72), 10 (27 disks) had undergone fusion surgery before the follow-up. No differences in VAS, ODI, or EQ5D scores were found between patients with and without surgery (mean 51/32/0.54 vs. 50/37/0.40, respectively; 0.77 > p < 0.65). Other than more segments with EPS ≥ 4 in the surgery group (p < 0.05), no between-group differences were found in longitudinal change in MRI parameters. Of 75 non-fused disks, 30 were injected at baseline. Differences were found between injected and non-injected disks at both baseline and follow-up for Pfirrmann grade and HIZ, and at follow-up for EPS (0.04 > p < 0.001), but none for progression over time (0.09 > p < 0.82).

CONCLUSIONS

Other than more endplate changes in the surgery group, no differences in longitudinal change of MRI parameters were established between LBP patients treated with or without fusion surgery in the studied cohort. The study also highlights the limited progress of degenerative changes, which may be seen over a decade, despite needle puncture and chronic LBP.

Quiescence preconditioned nucleus pulposus stem cells alleviate intervertebral disc degeneration by enhancing cell survival via adaptive metabolism pattern in rats

Quiescence is a cellular state of reversible growth arrest required to maintain homeostasis and self-renewal. Entering quiescence allows the cells to remain in the non-dividing stage for an extended period of time and enact mechanisms to protect themselves from damage. Due to the extreme nutrient-deficient microenvironment in the intervertebral disc (IVD), the therapeutic effect of cell transplantation is limited. In this study, nucleus pulposus stem cells (NPSCs) were preconditioned into quiescence through serum starvation in vitro and transplanted to repair intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). In vitro, we investigated apoptosis and survival of quiescent NPSCs in a glucose-free medium without fetal bovine serum. Non-preconditioned proliferating NPSCs served as controls. In vivo, the cells were transplanted into a rat model of IDD induced by acupuncture, and the intervertebral disc height, histological changes, and extracellular matrix synthesis were observed. Finally, to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the quiescent state of NPSCs, the metabolic patterns of the cells were investigated through metabolomics. The results revealed that quiescent NPSCs decreased apoptosis and increased cell survival when compared to proliferating NPSCs both in vitro and in vivo, as well as maintained the disc height and histological structure significantly better than that by proliferating NPSCs. Furthermore, quiescent NPSCs have generally downregulated metabolism and reduced energy requirements in response to a switch to a nutrient-deficient environment. These findings support that quiescence preconditioning maintains the proliferation and biological function potential of NPSCs, increases cell survival under the extreme environment of IVD, and further alleviates IDD via adaptive metabolic patterns.

Regulatory Effect of Inflammatory Mediators in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a major contributor to back, neck, and radicular pain. It is related to changes in tissue structure and function, including the breakdown of the extracellular matrix (ECM), aging, apoptosis of the nucleus pulposus, and biomechanical tissue impairment. Recently, an increasing number of studies have demonstrated that inflammatory mediators play a crucial role in IDD, and they are being explored as potential treatment targets for IDD and associated disorders. For example, interleukins (IL), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), chemokines, and inflammasomes have all been linked to the pathophysiology of IDD. These inflammatory mediators are found in high concentrations in intervertebral disc (IVD) tissues and cells and are associated with the severity of LBP and IDD. It is feasible to reduce the production of these proinflammatory mediators and develop a novel therapy for IDD, which will be a hotspot of future research. In this review, the effects of inflammatory mediators in IDD were described.

Application of platelet-rich plasma in spinal surgery

With the aging of the population and changes in lifestyle, the incidence of spine-related diseases is increasing, which has become a major global public health problem; this results in a huge economic burden on the family and society. Spinal diseases and complications can lead to loss of motor, sensory, and autonomic functions. Therefore, it is necessary to identify effective treatment strategies. Currently, the treatment of spine-related diseases includes conservative, surgical, and minimally invasive interventional therapies. However, these treatment methods have several drawbacks such as drug tolerance and dependence, adjacent spondylosis, secondary surgery, infection, nerve injury, dural rupture, nonunion, and pseudoarthrosis. Further, it is more challenging to promote the regeneration of the interstitial disc and restore its biomechanical properties. Therefore, clinicians urgently need to identify methods that can limit disease progression or cure diseases at the etiological level. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a platelet-rich form of plasma extracted from venous blood, is a blood-derived product. Alpha granules contain a large number of cytokines, such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor, platelet factor 4 (PF-4), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). These growth factors allow stem cell proliferation and angiogenesis, promote bone regeneration, improve the local microenvironment, and enhance tissue regeneration capacity and functional recovery. This review describes the application of PRP in the treatment of spine-related diseases and discusses the clinical application of PRP in spinal surgery.

Role of Pyroptosis in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration and Its Therapeutic Implications

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), a progressive and multifactorial pathological process, is predominantly associated with low back pain and permanent disability. Pyroptosis is a type of lytic programmed cell death triggered by the activation of inflammasomes and caspases. Unlike apoptosis, pyroptosis is characterized by the rupture of the plasma membrane and the release of inflammatory mediators, accelerating the destruction of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Recent studies have shown that pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells is activated in the progression of IDD. Furthermore, targeting pyroptosis in IDD demonstrates the excellent capacity of ECM remodeling and its anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting that pyroptosis is involved in the IDD process. In this review, we briefly summarize the molecular mechanism of pyroptosis and the pathogenesis of IDD. We also focus on the role of pyroptosis in the pathological progress of IDD and its targeted therapeutic application.

Effect of osteopathic manipulation of the sacroiliac joint vs electrotherapy on pain and functional disability in patients with low back pain: A pilot study

BACKGROUND

One of the main problems faced by physiotherapists in primary care is low back pain with or without radiation to lower limbs. There are many different treatment approaches for the management of low back pain. Despite the large amount of published studies, the evidence remains contradictory.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the influence of the osteopathic manipulation of the sacroiliac joint on low back pain with or without radiation to lower limbs.

METHOD

Single-blind randomized clinical controlled trial. Participants with low back pain with or without lower limb radiation were randomized to osteopathic manipulation of the sacroiliac joint group (intervention, 6 sessions) or to an electrotherapy group (control, 15 sessions) for 3 weeks. Measures were taken at baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 4). The primary outcome measures were pain (Visual Analogue Scale), functional disability (Oswestry disability index and Roland Morris questionnaire). The secondary outcome measure was pain threshold at muscular tender points in the quadratus lumborum, pyramidal, mayor gluteus, and hamstrings.

RESULTS

In all, 37 participants completed the study. The results of the intragroup comparisons showed statistically significant improvements in both groups in the visual analogue scale (Osteopathic manipulation group, P= 0.000; Electrotherapy group, P= 0.005) and Oswestry disability index (Osteopathic manipulation group, P= 0.000; Electrotherapy group- P= 0.026) but not in the Roland Morris questionnaire (P= 0.121), which only improved in the intervention group (P= 0.01). The osteopathic manipulation was much more effective than electrotherapy improving to pain and functional disability.

CONCLUSION

Osteopathic manipulation of the sacroiliac joint improves pain and disability in patients with sacroiliac dysfunction after three weeks of treatment.

Proanthocyanidins inhibit the apoptosis and aging of nucleus pulposus cells through the PI3K/Akt pathway delaying intervertebral disc degeneration

BACKGROUND

Low back pain is a common symptom of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. The abnormal apoptosis and senescence of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells play important roles in the pathogenesis of IDD. Proanthocyanidins (PACs) are polyphenolic compounds with anti-apoptosis and anti-aging effects. However, their functions in NP cells are not yet clear. Therefore, this study was performed to explore the effects of PACs on NP cell apoptosis and aging and the underlying mechanisms of action.

METHODS

Cell viability was evaluated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The apoptosis rate was determined TUNEL assays. Levels of apoptosis-associated molecules (Bcl-2, Bax, C-caspase-3 and Caspase-9) were evaluated via western blot. The senescence was observed through SA-β-gal staining and western blotting analysis was performed to observe the expression of senescence-related molecules (p-P53, P53, P21 and P16).

RESULTS

Pretreatment with PACs exhibited protective effects against IL-1β-induced NP cell apoptosis including apoptosis rate, expressions of proapoptosis and antiapoptosis related genes and protein. PACs could also alleviate the increase of p-p53, P21, and P16 in IL-1β-treated NP cells. SA-β-gal staining showed that IL-1β-induced senescence of NP cells was prevented by PACs pertreatment. In addition, PACs activated PI3K/Akt pathway in IL-1β-stimulated NP cells. However, these protected effects were inhibited after LY294002 treatment.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study showed that PACs inhibit IL-1β-induced apoptosis and aging of NP cells by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway, and suggested that PACs have therapeutic potential for IDD.

Autologous cultured adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells combined with hyaluronic acid hydrogel in the treatment of discogenic low back pain: a study protocol for a phase II randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Discogenic low back pain (DLBP) is a common disease, and its occurrence is closely related to intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. At present, none of the traditional treatment methods can repair the degenerated IVD. The emergence of stem cell therapy makes it possible to repair and regenerate IVD tissue, among which adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) transplantation therapy has become a hot spot of current research. Therefore, this trial aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of using autologous cultured ADMSCs combined with hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel in the treatment of DLBP.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This study is a randomised, dose-escalation, placebo-controlled, double-blind, single-centre, phase II clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of autologous cultured ADMSCs combined with HA hydrogel in the treatment of patients with DLBP. The 100 eligible patients will be randomly divided into three experimental groups with different doses and one placebo control group in a ratio of 1:1:1:1. All patients will undergo liposuction to obtain ADMSCs, followed by autologous cultured ADMSC mixtures or placebo transplantation after 3 weeks. The patients will be followed up to 24 months after the transplant. The primary end point of this trial is the Visual Analogue Scale. Secondary end points include the Oswestry Disability Index, Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scores, the Mos 36-item short form, the Modic classification, Pfirrmann grade, height and segment range of motion of the IVD, vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure), blood routine, liver and kidney function, immunological examination, urinalysis and treatment emergent adverse events.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University and registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. Dissemination of the results will be presented at a conference and in peer-reviewed publications.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ChiCTR2200058291.

The Analgesic Efficacy of Intradiscal Injection of Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate and Culture-Expanded Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Discogenic Pain: A Systematic Review

Pain originating from the intervertebral disc (discogenic pain) is a prevalent manifestation of low back pain and is often challenging to treat. Of recent interest, regenerative medicine options with injectable biologics have been trialed in discogenic pain and a wide variety of other painful musculoskeletal conditions. In particular, the role of bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) and culture-expanded bone marrow derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs) in treating discogenic pain remains unclear. The primary objective of this systematic review was to appraise the evidence of intradiscal injection with BMAC and culture-expanded BM-MSCs in alleviating pain intensity from discogenic pain. Secondary outcomes included changes in physical function after intradiscal injection, correlation between stromal cell count and pain intensity, and anatomical changes of the disc assessed by radiographic imaging after intradiscal injection. Overall, 16 studies consisting of 607 participants were included in qualitative synthesis without pooling. Our synthesis revealed that generally intradiscal autologous or allogeneic BMAC and culture-expanded BM-MSCs improved discogenic pain compared to baseline. Intradiscal injection was also associated with improvements in physical functioning and positive anatomical changes on spine magnetic resonance imaging (improved disc height, disc water content, Pfirrmann grading) although anatomical findings were inconsistent across studies. However, the overall GRADEscore for this study was very low due to heterogeneity and poor generalizability. There were no serious adverse events reported post intradiscal injection except for a case of discitis.

Targeting Autophagy for Developing New Therapeutic Strategy in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a prevalent cause of low back pain. IVDD is characterized by abnormal expression of extracellular matrix components such as collagen and aggrecan. In addition, it results in dysfunctional growth, senescence, and death of intervertebral cells. The biological pathways involved in the development and progression of IVDD are not fully understood. Therefore, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying IVDD could aid in the development of strategies for prevention and treatment. Autophagy is a cellular process that removes damaged proteins and dysfunctional organelles, and its dysfunction is linked to a variety of diseases, including IVDD and osteoarthritis. In this review, we describe recent research findings on the role of autophagy in IVDD pathogenesis and highlight autophagy-targeting molecules which can be exploited to treat IVDD. Many studies exhibit that autophagy protects against and postpones disc degeneration. Further research is needed to determine whether autophagy is required for cell integrity in intervertebral discs and to establish autophagy as a viable therapeutic target for IVDD.

Irisin Ameliorates Intervertebral Disc Degeneration by Activating LATS/YAP/CTGF Signaling

Unbalanced metabolism of an extracellular matrix (ECM) in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) is widely acknowledged as the primary cause of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Irisin, a novel myokine, is cleaved from fibronectin type III domain-containing 5 (FNDC5) and has recently been proven to regulate the metabolism of ECM. However, little is known about its potential on NPCs and the development of IDD. Therefore, this study sought to examine the protective effects and molecular mechanism of irisin on IDD in vivo and in vitro. Decreased expression levels of FNDC5 and anabolism markers (COL2A1 and ACAN) but increased levels of catabolism markers (ADAMTS4) were found in degenerative nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues. In a punctured-induced rat IDD model, irisin treatment was found to significantly slow the development of IDD, and in TNF-α-stimulated NPCs, irisin treatment partly reversed the disorder of ECM metabolism. In mechanism, RNA-seq results suggested that irisin treatment affected the Hippo signaling pathway. Further studies revealed that with irisin treatment, the phosphorylation levels of key factors (LATS and YAP) were downregulated, while the expression level of CTGF was upregulated. Moreover, CTGF knockdown partially eliminated the protective effects of irisin on the metabolism of ECM in NPCs, including inhibiting the anabolism and promoting the catabolism. Taken together, this study demonstrated that the expression levels of FNDC5 were decreased in degenerative NP tissues, while irisin treatment promoted the anabolism, inhibited the catabolism of the ECM in NPCs, and delayed the progression of IDD via LATS/YAP/CTGF signaling. These results shed light on the protective actions of irisin on NPCs, leading to the development of a novel therapeutic target for treating IDD.

New Hope for Treating Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: Microsphere-Based Delivery System

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IVDD) has been considered the dominant factor in low back pain (LBP), and its etiological mechanisms are complex and not yet fully elucidated. To date, the treatment of IVDD has mainly focused on relieving clinical symptoms and cannot fundamentally solve the problem. Recently, a novel microsphere-based therapeutic strategy has held promise for IVD regeneration and has yielded encouraging results with in vitro experiments and animal models. With excellent injectability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, this microsphere carrier allows for targeted delivery and controlled release of drugs, gene regulatory sequences, and other bioactive substances and supports cell implantation and directed differentiation, aiming to improve the disease state of IVD at the source. This review discusses the possible mechanisms of IVDD and the limitations of current therapies, focusing on the application of microsphere delivery systems in IVDD, including targeted delivery of active substances and drugs, cellular therapy, and gene therapy, and attempts to provide a new understanding for the treatment of IVDD.

Efficacy and Safety of Bushen Huoxue Formula in Patients with Discogenic Low-Back Pain: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy and safety of Bushen Huoxue Formula (BSHXF) for the treatment of discogenic low-back pain (DLBP).

METHODS

This was a parallel, double-blind, randomized, clinical trial performed between May 2019 and June 2020. Seventy patients were assigned by computerized random number table to the treatment group (lumbar traction and BSHXF, 35 cases) or the control group (lumbar traction and placebo, 35 cases). The patients received intervention for 3 weeks. Assessment was conducted before treatment and at week 1, 2, 3 during treatment. Primary outcome was the self-reported score of Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Secondary outcomes included Visual Analog Scale (VAS), clinical efficacy rate by minimal clinically important difference (MCID) as well as lumbar tenderness, muscle tone and lumbar spine mobility. Adverse reactions were recorded. Follow-up was performed at 1 and 3 months after the end of treatment.

RESULTS

In the treatment group, ODI score was significantly decreased compared with baseline (P<0.05) and the control group at 2- and 3- week treatment. Similarly, VAS score decreased compared with the baseline (P<0.05) and was lower than that in the control group at 2- and 3- week treatment (P<0.05). The clinical efficacy rate of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group after treatment [32.35% (11/34) vs. 3.13% (1/32), P<0.05). Moreover, the tenderness, and muscle tone, as well as the back extension and left flexion in lumbar spine mobility in the treatment group at 3-week treatment were significantly improved compared with the control group (P<0.05). Follow-up showed that at 1-month after treatment, the treatment group had better outcomes than the control group with regard to a total score of ODI and VAS scores, as well as clinical efficacy rate (all P<0.05). Moreover, VAS score was still significantly lower than the control group at 3-month follow-up (P<0.05). No adverse reactions were reported during the study.

CONCLUSION

BSXHF combined with lumbar traction can significantly improve the clinical symptoms including pain intensity, functionality, muscle tone, and lumbar spine mobility in DLBP patients. (Registration No. ChiCTR1900027777).

Non-surgical therapy for the treatment of chronic low back pain in patients with Modic changes: A systematic review of the literature

Background

In absence of uniform therapeutic recommendations, knowledge of the available treatment options for Modic changes (MCs) patients and their safety and effectiveness would be crucial and significant for clinicians and such patients.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to provide a systematic review of available studies on non-surgical treatments of MCs.

Methods

We performed a systematic review of multiple electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure for the period until 31st August 2021 to search for studies on non-surgical treatments for MCs in accordance with the guidance of the Cochrane Handbook. Potential studies were screened by their titles and abstracts. The methodological quality of the included studies was independently evaluated by two authors. Final recommendations for the included interventions were developed based on grades of recommendations. The narrative format was adopted to synthesize the findings of the present work.

Results

Fifth studies involving a total of 1147 patients were identified for this systematic review. The results of this review demonstrated that spinal manipulation has been suggested as an alternative option for patients with MCs. However, there was insufficient evidence to support that patients with MCs can benefit from the medication and wearing the rigid lumbar brace. Moreover, the rationale and safety for the use of antibiotics in such patients remain highly controversial. Low evidence revealed that exercise therapy might decrease pain intensity only for special subgroups of MCs patients.

Conclusions

There is not yet enough evidence to suggest that non-surgical treatments are useful for patients with MCs. Further high-quality, multicenter trials are required to validate the effectiveness of these non-surgical treatments.

In vivo Mouse Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Models and Their Utility as Translational Models of Clinical Discogenic Back Pain: A Comparative Review

Low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide and studies have demonstrated intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration as a major risk factor. While many in vitro models have been developed and used to study IVD pathophysiology and therapeutic strategies, the etiology of IVD degeneration is a complex multifactorial process involving crosstalk of nearby tissues and systemic effects. Thus, the use of appropriate in vivo models is necessary to fully understand the associated molecular, structural, and functional changes and how they relate to pain. Mouse models have been widely adopted due to accessibility and ease of genetic manipulation compared to other animal models. Despite their small size, mice lumbar discs demonstrate significant similarities to the human IVD in terms of geometry, structure, and mechanical properties. While several different mouse models of IVD degeneration exist, greater standardization of the methods for inducing degeneration and the development of a consistent set of output measurements could allow mouse models to become a stronger tool for clinical translation. This article reviews current mouse models of IVD degeneration in the context of clinical translation and highlights a critical set of output measurements for studying disease pathology or screening regenerative therapies with an emphasis on pain phenotyping. First, we summarized and categorized these models into genetic, age-related, and mechanically induced. Then, the outcome parameters assessed in these models are compared including, molecular, cellular, functional/structural, and pain assessments for both evoked and spontaneous pain. These comparisons highlight a set of potential key parameters that can be used to validate the model and inform its utility to screen potential therapies for IVD degeneration and their translation to the human condition. As treatment of symptomatic pain is important, this review provides an emphasis on critical pain-like behavior assessments in mice and explores current behavioral assessments relevant to discogenic back pain. Overall, the specific research question was determined to be essential to identify the relevant model with histological staining, imaging, extracellular matrix composition, mechanics, and pain as critical parameters for assessing degeneration and regenerative strategies.

Low-dose mesenchymal stem cell therapy for discogenic pain: safety and efficacy results from a 1-year feasibility study

Aim: To evaluate safety and efficacy of low dose autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) for treatment of disc degeneration resulting in low back pain (LBP). Methods: Nine participants with chronic LBP originating from single-level lumbar disc disease underwent intradiscal injection of 10 million ADMSCs with optional repetition after 6 months. Results: No unexpected or serious adverse events were recorded. Seven (78%) of participants reported reductions in pain 12 months after treatment. Five (56%) reported increased work capacity. Three (33%) reduced analgesic medication. Improvements in EQ-5D and Oswestry disability index results were observed. MRI demonstrated no further disc degeneration and improvements to annular fissures and disc protrusions. Conclusion: This study provides initial evidence of safety and efficacy of ADMSCs for discogenic LBP.

Efficacy of the Gelstix nucleus augmentation device for the treatment of chronic discogenic low back pain: protocol for a randomised, sham-controlled, double-blind, multicentre trial

INTRODUCTION

Discogenic pain is the cause of pain in 26%-40% of patients with for low back pain. Consensus about treatment of chronic discogenic low back pain is lacking and most treatment alternatives are supported by limited evidence. The percutaneous implantation of hydrogels into the nucleus pulposus represents a promising regenerative intradiscal therapy. The hydrogel 'GelStix' is composed primarily of hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile and acts as a reservoir of hydration, producing increased pressure and improved pH balance, potentially leading to disc preservation. We hypothesise that treatment with GelStix will lead to greater reduction in pain intensity at 6 months post-treatment compared with patients receiving sham treatment.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a parallel group, randomised sham-controlled double-blind, multicentre trial to assess whether the GelStix device is superior to sham in reducing pain intensity in patients with chronic discogenic low back pain. The study will be conducted in two regional hospitals in Europe. Seventy-two participants will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome will be the change in pain intensity between preoperative baseline and at 6 months postintervention. Secondary outcomes were disability, quality of life, the patient's global impression of change scale, the use of pain medication and the disc degeneration process assessed by means of MRI. For change in pain intensity, disability, health-related quality of life and disc height, mean values will be compared between groups using linear regression analysis, adjusted for treatment centre.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Canton Ticino, Switzerland (CE2982) and by the Medical Ethical Committee Arnhem-Nijmegen, the Netherlands (2016-2944). All patients that agree to participate will be asked to sign an informed consent form. Results will be disseminated through international publications in peer-reviewed journals, in addition to international conference presentations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT02763956.

PROTOCOL VERSION

7.1, 18 November 2020.

Identifying the potential role of IL-1β in the molecular mechanisms of disc degeneration using gene expression profiling and bioinformatics analysis

PURPOSE

We performed a bioinformatics analysis to identify the key genes that were differentially expressed between degenerative intervertebral disc (IVD) cells with and without exposure to interleukin-1β and explore the related signaling pathways and interaction networks.

METHODS

The microarray data were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (27,494). Then, analyses of the gene ontology, signaling pathways, and interaction networks for the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were conducted using tools including the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery, Metascape, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes, Cytoscape, Venn method, and packages of the R computing language.

RESULTS

A total of 260 DEGs were identified, including 161 upregulated and 99 downregulated genes. Gene Ontology annotation analysis showed that these DEGs were mainly associated with the extracellular region, chemotaxis, taxis, cytokine activity, and cytokine receptor binding. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes signaling pathway analysis showed that these DEGs were mainly involved in the of cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, rheumatoid arthritis, tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, Salmonella infection, and chemokine signaling pathway. The interaction network analysis indicated that 10 hub genes, including CXCL8, CXCL1, CCL20, CXCL2, CXCL5, CXCL3, CXCL6, C3, PF4, and GPER1 may play key roles in IVD degeneration.

CONCLUSIONS

Bioinformatic analysis showed that CXCL8 and other nine key genes may play a role in the development of disc degeneration induced by inflammatory reactions and can be used to identify potential target genes for therapeutic applications in IVD degeneration.

Efficacy Analysis of Percutaneous Endoscopic Spinal Surgery for Young Patients with Discogenic Low Back Pain

Purpose

To evaluate the application value of percutaneous endoscopic spinal surgery for young patients with discogenic low back pain (DLBP) and to judge its clinical efficacy.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed young patients with single-segment discogenic lumbago from July 2018 to June 2020 in our department who underwent percutaneous endoscopic surgery according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. We finally enrolled 20 patients. The follow-up time was 6–30 months. In all patients, we recorded the visual analog scale (VAS) score for waist pain and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) preoperatively, immediately postoperatively and at the last follow-up. We used the modified MacNab criteria to assess the curative effect at the last follow-up.

Results

All 20 patients underwent successful operations without complications. No recurrence was observed during follow-up. The VAS score of low back pain was 5.05±1.19 points before surgery, 1.50±051 points immediately after surgery, and 1.10±0.72 points at the last follow-up (P < 0.05 preoperative vs both postoperative). At the last follow-up, the VAS scores of all 20 patients were ≤2, and 4 patients had no pain. The ODI was 46.66±7.03% before surgery, 9.78±4.05% immediately after surgery, and 4.11±3.18% at the last (P < 0.05, preoperative vs both postoperative). According to the evaluation under the modified MacNab standard, the good–excellent rate of clinical efficacy at the last follow-up was 95%.

Conclusion

Percutaneous endoscopic spinal surgery can significantly improve the symptoms and dysfunction of young patients with DLBP and has little effect on the biomechanical stability of the lumbar spine. This surgery has great clinical application value.

Novel Magnetic Resonance Imaging Tools for the Diagnosis of Degenerative Disc Disease: A Narrative Review

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, with a significant socioeconomic burden on healthcare systems. It is mainly caused by degenerative disc disease (DDD), a progressive, chronic, and age-related process. With its capacity to accurately characterize intervertebral disc (IVD) and spinal morphology, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been established as one of the most valuable tools in diagnosing DDD. However, existing technology cannot detect subtle changes in IVD tissue composition and cell metabolism. In this review, we summarized the state of the art regarding innovative quantitative MRI modalities that have shown the capacity to discriminate and quantify changes in matrix composition and integrity, as well as biomechanical changes in the early stages of DDD. Validation and implementation of this new technology in the clinical setting will allow for an early diagnosis of DDD and ideally guide conservative and regenerative treatments that may prevent the progression of the degenerative process rather than intervene at the latest stages of the disease.

Feasibility of continuous epidural analgesia in patients with failed back surgery syndrome and spinal stenosis

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to outline the feasibility of continuous epidural analgesia in the treatment of failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) or spinal stenosis.

METHODS

We queried our prospective collected institutional database to include all consecutive patients, who underwent continuous epidural analgesia with accompanying intensive physiotherapeutic exercise within a timeframe of 4 years. Patients suffered from FBSS or spinal stenosis; protocolled continuous epidural analgesia was planned for 4 days within the framework of an inpatient multimodal pain therapy concept. The instillation technique of the epidural catheter, the capability to attend in accompanying physiotherapy, and the peri-interventional complications were evaluated.

RESULTS

153 patients with an average age of 57.4 years (± 11.9) were enrolled in this study. 105 patients suffered from FBSS and 48 patients had spinal stenosis. Overall, 148 patients (96.7%) reported the pain reduction and were able to perform daily intensified physiotherapeutic exercise. There were no serious adverse events, neither infection nor bleeding, no cardiopulmonary complication or permanent neurological deficits. The most common side effect was neurological impairment, such as numbness, dysesthesia, or weakness of the lower limbs with complete regression after flow rate adjustment. Patients with FBSS were more likely to develop dysesthesia (p = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

Continuous epidural analgesia is feasible in patients with FBSS or spinal stenosis. This treatment enables extensive physiotherapeutic treatment even in patients with severe pain conditions and can be considered as an alternative to epidural injections. An increased complication rate in comparison to short-term perioperative or perinatal application was not observed.

Finite Element Analysis of a Bionate Ring-Shaped Customized Lumbar Disc Nucleus Prosthesis

Study design: Biomechanical study of a nucleus replacement with a finite element model. Objective: To validate a Bionate 80A ring-shaped nucleus replacement. Methods: The ANSYS lumbar spine model made from lumbar spine X-rays and magnetic resonance images obtained from cadaveric spine specimens were used. All materials were assumed homogeneous, isotropic, and linearly elastic. We studied three options: intact spine, nucleotomy, and nucleus implant. Two loading conditions were evaluated at L₃-L₄, L₄-L₅, and L₅-S₁ discs: a 1000 N axial compression load and this load after the addition of 8 Nm flexion moment in the sagittal plane plus 8 Nm axial rotation torque. Results: Maximum nucleus implant axial compression stresses in the range of 16–34 MPa and tensile stress in the range of 5–16 MPa, below Bionate 80A resistance were obtained. Therefore, there is little risk of permanent implant deformation or severe damage under normal loading conditions. Nucleotomy increased segment mobility, zygapophyseal joint and end plate pressures, and annulus stresses and strains. All these parameters were restored satisfactorily by nucleus replacement but never reached the intact status. In addition, annulus stresses and strains were lower with the nucleus implant than in the intact spine under axial compression and higher under complex loading conditions. Conclusions: Under normal loading conditions, there is a negligible risk of nucleus replacement, permanent deformation or severe damage. Nucleotomy increased segmental mobility, zygapophyseal joint pressures, and annulus stresses and strains. Nucleus replacement restored segmental mobility and zygapophyseal joint pressures close to the intact spine. End plate pressures were similar for the intact and nucleus implant conditions under both loading modes. Manufacturing customized nucleus implants is considered feasible, as satisfactory biomechanical performance is confirmed.

Local Delivery of Senolytic Drug Inhibits Intervertebral Disc Degeneration and Restores Intervertebral Disc Structure

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IVDD) is a leading cause of chronic low back pain. There is a strong clinical demand for more effective treatments for IVDD as conventional treatments provide only symptomatic relief rather than arresting IVDD progression. This study shows that senolytic therapy with local drug delivery can inhibit IVDD and restore IVD integrity. ABT263, a senolytic drug, is loaded in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA-ABT) and intradiscally administered into injury-induced IVDD rat models. The single intradiscal injection of PLGA-ABT may enable local delivery of the drug to avascular IVD, prevention of potential systemic toxicity caused by systemic administration of senolytic drug, and morbidity caused by repetitive injections of free drug into the IVD. The strategy results in the selective elimination of senescent cells from the degenerative IVD, reduces expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and matrix proteases in the IVD, inhibits progression of IVDD, and even restores the IVD structure. This study demonstrates for the first time that local delivery of senolytic drug can effectively treat senescence-associated IVDD. This approach can be extended to treat other types of senescence-associated degenerative diseases.

Development of a Perfusion Reactor for Intervertebral Disk Regeneration

A tissue-engineered biological disk replacement has been proposed as a promising approach for the treatment of degenerative disk disease. A perfusion bioreactor would be a logical consideration to facilitate this scale-up as such reactors have been shown to improve nutrient delivery and provide beneficial mechanical forces that support the cultivation of large three-dimensional constructs. It was hypothesized that perfusion culture of tissue-engineered intervertebral disk (IVD) tissues would be capable of generating outer annulus fibrosus (oAF) and nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues comparable with established spinner reactor or static cultures, respectively, without compromising cellular viability, nutrient delivery, and tissue formation. In this study, the perfusion grown oAF and NP tissues did not show a significant difference in extracellular matrix (ECM) quantity or cellular phenotype when compared with their control conditions. In addition, they maintained cellular viability at the center core of the tissues and received enhanced diffusion of medium throughout the tissue when compared with static conditions. This study lays the groundwork for future studies to grow an entire IVD tissue to a physiologically relevant size.

Fundamentals of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Lumbar disc degeneration is one of the leading causes of chronic low back pain. The degenerative cascade is often initiated by an imbalance between catabolic and anabolic processes in the intervertebral discs. As a consequence of extracellular matrix degradation, neoinnervation and neovascularization take place. Ultimately, this degenerative process results in disc bulging and loss of nucleus pulposus and water content and subsequent loss of disc height. Most patients respond to conservative management and surgical interventions well initially, yet a significant number of patients continue to suffer from chronic low back pain. Because of the high prevalence of long-term discogenic pain, regenerative biological therapies, including gene therapies, growth factors, cellular-based injections, and tissue-engineered constructs, have attracted significant attention in light of their potential to directly address the degenerative process. Understanding the pathophysiology of degenerative disc disease is important in both refining existing technologies and developing innovative techniques to reverse the degenerative processes in the discs. In this review, we aimed to cover the underlying pathophysiology of degenerative disc disease as well as its associated risk factors and give a comprehensive summary about the developmental, structural, radiological, and biomechanical properties of human intervertebral discs.

Reducing Inflammation and Vascular Invasion in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration via Cystathionine-γ-Lyase Inhibitory Effect on E-Selectin

The incidence of degenerative spinal diseases, such as cervical spondylosis and thoracic and lumbar disc herniation, is increasing. These health problems have adversely affected human life and work. Surgical intervention is effective when intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) causes nerve compression and/or severely limits daily activity. Early IDD patients generally do not require surgery. However, there is no effective method of impeding IDD progression. Thus, novel approaches to alleviating IDD deterioration are urgently required. Cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) and E-selectin (CD62E) are vital factors regulating vascular function and inflammation. However, their effects on IDD and vascular invasion in intervertebral discs (IVDs) are pending further exploration. Here, bioinformatics and human nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues analyses revealed that CSE was significantly downregulated and CD62E was upregulated in the NP tissues of IDD patients. We demonstrated that CSE overexpression, CD62E downregulation, and NF-κB (P65) inhibition mitigate inflammation and recover metabolic function in NP cells. Similarly, CSE attenuated vascular invasion induced by inflammatory irritation. Using a rat IDD model, we showed that CSE improved degeneration, inflammation, and microvascular invasion in NP tissue, whereas CD62E had the opposite effect. Taken together, our results indicated that the CSE/CD62E pathway could effectively improve the inflammatory environment and vascular invasion in IVD. Hence, the findings of this study propose a promising and valuable strategy for the treatment of patients with early IDD as well as postoperative adjuvant therapy in patients with severe IDD.

[Diagnosis and treatment of low back pain in old patients]

The back pain is one of the most common and socially significant neurological syndromes, leading to limited mobility and household independence of elderly patients. Specific «serious» causes of back pain account for 1-2% of all cases of back pain, approximately 10% of cases of pain correspond to radiculopathy, while the rest of the most common variants is related to nonspecific axial back pain. In the most cases of back pain, a clear connection between degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine and the clinical manifestations and intensity of back pain is absent. On the other hand, dystrophic changes in the spine, which under certain conditions can be a source of chronic pain, cannot be completely ignored. Therefore, «osteochondrosis» is currently considered as a heterogeneous cascade process with the different course variations. In practice, it is not always possible to draw a line between nociceptive, neuropathic, nociplastic and psychogenic pain, more often in this case we can talk about a mixed nature of pain. Unreasonable neuroimaging with the identification of «accidental» findings can complicate the interpretation of the causes of pain, however, it is absolutely indicated to exclude serious specific diseases, spinal stenosis, when determining the indications for surgery. The presence of comorbid affective disorders, certain personality characteristics of patients contributes to the persistent nature of low back pain, therefore it is important to take these factors into account when diagnosing the causes and treatment of pain. Along with conventional anti-inflammatory drugs and other analgesics with a proven effect in the complex treatment of patients with degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine with radicular and non-root pain syndromes, Symptomatic Slow-Acting Drugs in Osteoarthritis can be recommended.

Efficacy of DiscoGel in Treatment of Degenerative Disc Disease: A Prospective 1-Year Observation of 67 Patients

Patients with degenerative disc disease may suffer from chronic lumbar discogenic (DP) or radicular leg (RLP) pain. Minimally invasive DiscoGel therapy involves the percutaneous injection of an ethanol gel into the degenerated disk's nucleus pulposus. This paper compares the 1-year outcome of such treatment in DP and RLP patients. We operated on 67 patients (49 men and 18 women) aged 20-68 years (mean age 46 ± 11 years) with DP (n = 45) and RLP (n = 22), of at least 6-8 weeks duration, with no adverse effects. We evaluated the treatment outcome with Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). A year after the ethanol gel injection, in the DP cohort, COMI and VAS dropped by 66% (6.40 vs. 2.20) and 53% (6.33 vs. 2.97), respectively. For the RLP patients, the corresponding values dropped 48% (7.05 vs. 3.68) and 54% (6.77 vs. 3.13). There were no differences between the cohorts in COMI and VAS at the follow-up end. Six months into the study, 74% of DP and 81% of RLP patients did not use any analgesics. Ethanol gel therapy can be effective for many patients. Moreover, its potential failure does not exclude surgical treatment options.

New hope for intervertebral disc degeneration: bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), multidirectional cells with self-renewal capacity, can differentiate into many cell types and play essential roles in tissue healing and regenerative medicine. Cell experiments and in vivo research in animal models have shown that BMSCs can repair degenerative discs by promoting cell proliferation and expressing extracellular matrix (ECM) components, such as type II collagen and protein-polysaccharides. Delaying or reversing the intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD) process at an etiological level may be an effective strategy. However, despite increasingly in-depth research, some deficiencies in cell transplantation timing and strategy remain, preventing the clinical application of cell transplantation. Exosomes exhibit the characteristics of the mother cells from which they were secreted and can inhibit nucleus pulposus (NP) cell (NPC) apoptosis and delay IDD through intercellular communication. Furthermore, the use of exosomes effectively avoids problems associated with cell transplantation, such as immune rejection. This manuscript introduces almost all of the BMSCs and exosomes derived from BMSCs (BMSCs-Exos) described in the IDD literature. Many challenges regarding the use of cell transplantation and therapeutic exosome intervention for IDD remain to be overcome.

ADSC-Based Cell Therapies for Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Review of Recent Clinical Trials

Recently published clinical trials involving the use of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) indicated that approximately one-third of the studies were conducted on musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). MSD refers to a wide range of degenerative conditions of joints, bones, and muscles, and these conditions are the most common causes of chronic disability worldwide, being a major burden to the society. Conventional treatment modalities for MSD are not sufficient to correct the underlying structural abnormalities. Hence, ADSC-based cell therapies are being tested as a form of alternative, yet more effective, therapies in the management of MSDs. Therefore, in this review, MSDs subjected to the ADSC-based therapy were further categorized as arthritis, craniomaxillofacial defects, tendon/ligament related disorders, and spine disorders, and their brief characterization as well as the corresponding conventional therapeutic approaches with possible mechanisms with which ADSCs produce regenerative effects in disease-specific microenvironments were discussed to provide an overview of under which circumstances and on what bases the ADSC-based cell therapy was implemented. Providing an overview of the current status of ADSC-based cell therapy on MSDs can help to develop better and optimized strategies of ADSC-based therapeutics for MSDs as well as help to find novel clinical applications of ADSCs in the near future.