Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a condition that broadly refers to structural instability and degeneration in an intervertebral disc. A healthy disc consists of a tough outer annulus fibrosus that surrounds a jelly-like nucleus pulposus. The annulus and nucleus work together to:
- Enable spinal motion
- Absorb pressure
- Distribute load
Disc degeneration occurs as part of the normal aging process. As the body ages, the nucleus dehydrates, compromising its cushioning ability. The annulus may also begin to degenerate under the repeated stress of daily activities, which can lead to disc herniation, or leakage of the nucleus. Factors such as heredity, lifestyle and trauma may affect the rate of disc degeneration.
In some cases, degenerative changes may be associated with pain. Usually, pain is temporary and can be relieved with conservative (non-surgical) care; however, if the pain becomes chronic and is unresponsive to conservative care, surgical treatment may be required. Surgical options for DDD include spinal fusion or total disc replacement with a device such as the ProDisc-L implant.