Method of treating spinal internal disk derangement
A method of treating a spinal disk according to the present invention can include inserting an alloplastic bulking agent into the spinal disk to treat the defect. The alloplastic bulking agent has a plurality of microparticles. The bulking agent results in at least one of sealing the defect, increasing a pressure of the disk, increasing a height of the disk, improving stability of the disk and improving structural integrity of the disk.
1. A method of treating a spinal disk comprising injecting a biocompatible agent into an interior portion of the spinal disk, wherein the biocompatible agent comprises a plurality of microparticles, the plurality of microparticles having a diameter in the range of 5 to 500 microns, wherein the plurality of microparticles are inserted into the spinal disk as loose microparticles and remain therein as loose microparticles.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein injecting a biocompatible agent into an interior portion of the spinal disk comprises injecting the biocompatible agent into a center of the spinal disk.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein injecting a biocompatible agent into an interior portion of the spinal disk comprises injecting the biocompatible agent into a nucleus pulposus of the spinal disk.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of sealing a defect in the spinal disk, increasing a pressure of the spinal disk, increasing a height of the spinal disk, improving stability of the spinal disk, and improving structural integrity of the spinal disk.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microparticles are suspended in a solution comprising collagen.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible agent comprises at least one of water, saline, a tenside, radiopaque dye, and a chromophobe.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microparticles comprise a histocompatible solid.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microparticles comprise an inert histocompatible polymer.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microparticles microparticles comprise one or more of poly methacrylate, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), a cured polymer, a fully polymerized polymer, and glass.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising viewing the spinal disk through a scope.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein injecting the biocompatible agent comprises delivering about 0.5 to 1.5 cubic centimeters of the biocompatible agent into a center of the spinal disk.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein injecting the biocompatible agent comprises inserting a syringe into a center of the spinal disk.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein injecting the biocompatible agent occurs during at least one of a discography, laminotomy, laminectomy, hemilaminotomy, and hemilaminectomy, and open procedure.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displacing a nucleus pulposus of the spinal disk from a site of implantation of the biocompatible agent, the displacement of the nucleus pulposus in a direction toward an annulus fibrosis defect of the spinal disk.
15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising introducing the biocompatible agent into a nucleus pulposus of the spinal disk in a direct or proximate vicinity of an annulus fibrosis defect of the spinal disk.
16. A method of sealing an annulus fibrosis defect in a spinal disk comprising injecting a biocompatible agent into a nucleus pulposus of the spinal disk in a direct or proximate vicinity of the annulus fibrosis defect, wherein the biocompatible agent comprises a plurality of microparticles, the plurality of microparticles having a diameter in the range of 5 to 500 microns, the plurality of microparticles inserted into the spinal disk as loose microparticles and remaining therein as loose microparticles, wherein the biocompatible agent causes a seal to be formed in and around the annular fibrosis defect.