Injection of fibrin sealant including an anesthetic in spinal applications
A method of treating a disc that is leaking nucleus pulposus through at least one defect in the annulus fibrosus. The method includes injecting a fibrin sealant into the disc to reduce at least a portion of the at least one defect, wherein the fibrin sealant injected into the disc comprises an anesthetic, fibrinogen and an activating compound, wherein at least a portion of the fibrin forms after injection, with the proviso that a corticosteroid is absent from the fibrin sealant injected into the disc.
1. A method of treating a disc that is leaking nucleus pulposus through at least one defect in the annulus fibrosus, comprising:
inserting a first needle having a tip by piercing the annulus fibrosus and pushing the first needle tip into the nucleus pulposus,
inserting a polymeric catheter or a second needle into the first needle up to but not beyond the tip of the first needle,
then injecting a fibrin sealant through the polymeric catheter or second needle, or both the first needle and the polymeric catheter or second needle, into the disc to reduce at least a portion of the at least one defect, wherein the fibrin sealant injected into the disc comprises an anesthetic, fibrinogen and an activating compound, wherein at least a portion of the fibrin forms after injection, with the proviso that a corticosteroid is absent from the fibrin sealant injected into the disc.
2. The method of claim 1 , with the proviso that neither the nucleus pulposus nor the annulus fibrosus has been heated.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fibrin sealant consists essentially of fibrinogen, the activating compound and the anesthetic, optionally at least one additive, and optionally calcium chloride.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fibrin sealant consists of fibrinogen, an activating compound and the anesthetic, optionally the at least one additive, and optionally containing calcium chloride.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein calcium chloride is injected with the fibrinogen and the activating compound.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activating compound is thrombin.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anesthetic is lidocaine, sarapin or bupivicaine.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one additive is also injected.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein no portion of the nucleus pulposus has been removed by surgery.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one defect is a tear or fissure in the annulus fibrosus.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein normal hydrostatic pressure in the disc is restored.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein normal disc height is restored.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fibrinogen is autologous.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the injection is performed using a dual barrel syringe.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activating compound is thrombin, and wherein a mixture of anesthetic, fibrinogen and thrombin is injected.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activating compound is thrombin, and wherein the fibrinogen and thrombin are injected sequentially and at least partially mix in the disc.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anesthetic is injected sequentially either before, with or after the fibrinogen and thrombin and at least partially mix in the disc.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disc is injected with the fibrin sealant at multiple points.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disc is a lumbar disc.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disc is a cervical disc.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disc is a thoracic disc.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein a contrast agent is injected either before the fibrin sealant, with the fibrin sealant, or after the fibrin sealant has been injected.