MRI Analysis of Glycosaminoglycan Modifications Inside the Intervertebral Disk After Distraction and Posterior Fusion

NCT02815696 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 40

Last updated 2025-02-06

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is the primary cause of low back pain. The most important factor in the development of DDD is the vertical load force on the disc, increasing the hydrostatic pressure and facilitating discs degenerations. One of the most common conditions accompanying DDD is segmental instability of the spine. The pathogenesis evolves in three phases characterized by a progressive disc dehydration and loss of the disc height.

This phenomenon can be observed in magnetic resonance imaging (T2 weighted MRI) as a decrease of the water signal inside the intervertebral disc. It is considered as an indirect sign of the alteration of the composition (including glycosaminoglycans) and the structure of the intervertebral disk with, as consequence, a modification of the spine biomechanics. Animal studies showed that disc regeneration could be enhanced by a decrease of the hydrostatic pressure. This could be observed as a signal increase on T2 weighted MRI.

Recent quantitative MRI sequences now allow the quantification of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) concentration inside the cartilage and in the intervertebral disc.

The actual surgical trends are in favor of an anterior (intersomatic) vertebrak fusion, associated or not with a posterior fusion. These technics sacrifice the intervertebral disc and change the spine biomechanics.

Based on a pilot study, the investigators believe that the conservation and even a regeneration of the intervertebral disc is possible and allows the preservation of the spine biomechanics.

The purpose of the study is to analyze the relations between specific MRI signals, the GAGs concentration, and the functional outcome before and after the surgical treatment.

Conditions

  • Lumbar Spine Instability

Interventions

DEVICE

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Specific MRI sequences (delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage -dGEMRIC) performed before the surgery, 6 months and 1 year after surgery will allow to measure the following parameters: disc height, total lumbar spine lenght, GAGs concentration.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Brugmann University Hospital

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Tamas Illes, MD · CHU Brugmann

  • Dinh Qui Du PHAN, MD · CHU Brugmann

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2016-07-01
Primary Completion
2024-06-16
Completion
2024-06-16

Countries

  • Belgium

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT02815696 on ClinicalTrials.gov