Healing potential of the anulus fibrosus. x

---

x Hampton D. Laros G. McCarron R. Franks D. x Spine. [JC:uxk] 14(4):398-401, 1989 Apr. x The purpose of this study was to investigate the healing of surgically x created defects in the anulus fibrosus in an effort to determine the x healing potential of this structure. Four identical lesions were made in x the anulus fibrosus of ten dogs at levels L2-L5. Two dogs were killed at x 3, 6, and 9 weeks. Four dogs were killed at 12 weeks. The spines were x harvested during a 3- to 12-week period and evaluated grossly and x microscopically. Our study demonstrated that a stab wound of the anulus x has a limited healing potential and the persisting defect could provide a x pathway for irritating nuclear fluid escape onto perineural tissue, x possibly resulting in persistent low-back pain. x