User:Spine69800

 Solutions for degenerative disc disease 

Degenerative disc disease is a major health problem throughout the world and the leading cause of pain and disability in adult in the United States. Degenerative changes of the intervertebral disc occur as a natural part of aging at any level of the spine. DDD is genetically driven with about 70% of heritability but it is remained unclear what are the others initiating events or external parameters influencing progression. (Vardon, D., & Le Huec, J. - 2011 ). Around 3 000 patients are treated each year with degenerative disc problems.

'''Intervertebral prostheses ''' Intervertebral discs provide flexibility to the spine and transmit loads from body weight and muscle activity. In the long term, spinal fusion of the segment may lead to progressive degeneration of the adjacent vertebrae. Hence introduction of total disc replacement (TDR) procedures appears to be a promising clinical procedure, (Anbarani, K., Amiralaei, E., & Ching, D. 2010 ).

The goals of disc replacement, like many other prostheses, should reproduce the normal motion of the cervical spine while retaining the normal biomechanical properties of the intervertebral disc. The limiting nature of man-made materials must require existing biomaterials to represent compromise of material strength and function, (Anbarani, Amiralaei, & Ching, 2010).

 Intervertebral mobile prostheses 

A cervical mobility lower than 2 % corresponds to fusion and a flexion to extension angle, on dynamic radiographs, of less than 2° defined fusion, (Vital, J., Pointillart, V., Gille, O., & Aurouer, N. (2007).

Ceramic implant solutions

As zirconia-based ceramics are the only oxides able to couple high stress resistance and fracture toughness thanks to transformation toughening, a strong effort will be given to the improvement of their stability in the presence of water without decreasing their toughness and strength

Longlife project (European ceramic implant project) aims to develop new multi-functional zirconia spine (lumbar inter-vertebral disc) and oral implants with a perfect reliability and a lifetime longer than 60 years. The main goal is insuring an “implant for life”.

Osseointegration will be improved by the chemical and topographical modification of the surface. The aim is producing zirconia surfaces able to decrease the risk of bacterial adhesion and improve bone apposition, for better clinical success. Given the specific nature of ceramics, especially versus the risk of brittle failure, the objective is developing new ceramic-oriented designs for the implants, and not just ‘copy and paste’ from metal implants as it is generally done at present. This ‘implants by design’ approach will ensure a better, long-lasting success of oral and spine implants.

Partners involved in this project are:


 * Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon, INSA (Coordinator)
 * DOCERAM Medical Ceramics GmbH, DCM
 * AKEO PLUS, AKEO+
 * NTTF Coatings GmbH, NTTF
 * KISCO International, KISCO
 * ANTHOGYR, ANTHOGYR
 * Politecnico di Torino, POLITO
 * University of Trieste, UTRIESTE
 * Swerea IVF AB, SWEREA
 * Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, UKL-FR
 * Plazma, Keramika, Tehnologija, PCT
 * Kurt Salmon Luxemburg, Kurt Salmon

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