Intervertebral Disc Augmentation With Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedure

Intervertebral Disc Nucleus Augmentation With Allograft Meniscus With Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedure

The primary purpose of the study is to establish the degree and duration of pain relief following minimally invasive surgery for a painful degenerative disc.

The investigators will study patient recovery (outcome measures) in patients who have had minimally invasive surgery for implantation of human meniscus allograft (HMA) to replace the nucleus pulposus of a degenerative intervertebral disc.

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of degenerative disk disease at L3-L4, L4-L5, or L5-S1
• low back for no more that one year prior to enrollment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Osteoporosis
• Degenerative changes of vertebral endplates (obvious fractures, osteophytes)
• Modic Type II changes indicative of advanced bony degeneration
• Facet arthrosis (loss of facet joint cartilage, increased synovial fluid collection, or presence of osteophytes in inferior or superior plates)
• Discs classified with stage I or II degeneration
• Patients unable to have an MRI (pacemaker, claustrophobia, etc.)