Arthritis Res Ther
Volume 5
Issue 3 |
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 ReviewDegeneration of the intervertebral discJill PG Urban1  and Sally Roberts2 1University Laboratory of Physiology, Oxford University, Oxford, UK 2Centre for Spinal Studies, Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, Shropshire, and Keele University, Keele, UK  author email corresponding author email
Arthritis Res Ther 2003,
5:120-130doi:10.1186/ar629 Abstract
The intervertebral disc is a cartilaginous structure that resembles articular cartilage in its biochemistry, but morphologically it is clearly different. It shows degenerative and ageing changes earlier than does any other connective tissue in the body. It is believed to be important clinically because there is an association of disc degeneration with back pain. Current treatments are predominantly conservative or, less commonly, surgical; in many cases there is no clear diagnosis and therapy is considered inadequate. New developments, such as genetic and biological approaches, may allow better diagnosis and treatments in the future. | 
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