Quantification of the Water Content of Human Intervertebral Discs in Various Regions and Conditions

Abstract

Background: Intervertebral disc (IVD) water is a basic factor for modeling tissue growth and nutritional diffusion and its amount is directly related to the development of degenerative processes. Objective: direct assessment of human IVD water contents in different disc regions in correlation to age and disc degeneration processes. Methods: 103 IVD samples that were taken from 30 cadavers underwent a lyophilization process to assess their water contents. The results were tabulated and tested statistically in relation to different parameters, including gender, age, spinal level and degeneration grading. Results: This study reveals that the water content was significantly lower in the group whose age was more than the median age (83 years) when compared with the group whose age was less than the median age. Additionally, the study shows that the water content is dramatically and significantly reduced in individuals who have degenerative changes. Conclusions: The water content of the intervertebral disc directly correlates with age and the degeneration process, decreasing as age and degeneration progress.