Discectomy versus sequestrectomy in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Context: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a leading cause of low back pain (LBP) and leg pain and may require surgical treatment in case of persistent pain and/or neurological deficits. Conventional discectomy involves removing the herniated fragment and additional material from the disc space, potentially accelerating disc degeneration and contributing to chronic LBP. Conversely, by resecting the herniated fragment only, sequestrectomy may reduce postoperative LBP while increasing the risk of LDH recurrence.

Getting to the Core: Exploring the Embryonic Development from Notochord to Nucleus Pulposus.

The intervertebral disc (IVD) is the largest avascular organ of the human body and plays a fundamental role in providing the spine with its unique structural and biomechanical functions. The inner part of the IVD contains the nucleus pulposus (NP), a gel-like tissue characterized by a high content of type II collagen and proteoglycans, which is crucial for the disc's load-bearing and shock-absorbing properties. With aging and IVD degeneration (IDD), the NP gradually loses its physiological characteristics, leading to low back pain and additional sequelae.