Yes, but they are not available outside of clinical trials and the results are temporary and are only effective in early stage degradation.
These injectable hydrogels are developed and tested as a minimally invasive treatment for chronic low back pain caused by degenerative disc disease.
How Hydrogels Work for Spinal Discs
- Nucleus Replacement/Augmentation: The gel is injected into the center of a damaged spinal disc (the nucleus pulposus) using a needle guided by imaging.
- Physical Support: Once inside, the material solidifies or cools to form a flexible implant that mimics the natural cushion of the disc, fills internal cracks, helps restore disc height, and absorbs shock.
- Mechanical vs. Regenerative: Most clinical hydrogel systems act as mechanical cushions rather than curing or regrowing natural disc tissue.
- Other experimental research explores bio-instructive or cell-carrying hydrogels, though these remain largely in preclinical stages.
Current Clinical Status
- Clinical Studies: Systems like HYDRAFIL have undergone early-stage and 1-year follow-up feasibility studies showing significant reductions in pain and disability scores.
- Regulatory Approval: Certain hydrogel technologies have received designations such as the FDA Breakthrough Device status and are undergoing larger clinical trial enrollment, but they are not yet universally approved as standard, widespread commercial treatments.
- Patient Selection: These procedures typically require the outer ring of the disc (the annulus fibrosus) to remain relatively intact; if the outer wall is torn or compromised, the gel can potentially leak and cause nerve compression
Hydrogels for intervertebral spinal disc repair and nucleus pulposus augmentation exist across two main tracks: biomechanical nucleus augmentation devices (currently in human clinical trials) and biomimetic regenerative scaffolds (in preclinical and translational stages).
Medically Reviewed By
Dr. med. Karsten Ritter-Lang M.D.
Diploma of medicine (Institut of Immunology Charité)
1988 – 1991
Doctorade of medicine (Institut of Immunology Charité)
Senior consultant of spinal surgery in two hospitals (DRK Berlin Westend and Stenum Hospital) and private practice in Potsdam,ENDOCERT Certified awarded the title and certification of Specialist for Trauma Surgery (Facharzt für Unfallchirurgie) in 2009
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Investigated multi-axis kinematics and coupled physiological motion of viscoelastic artificial cervical discs (M6-C) compared to intact segments.
Citation: Patwardhan AG, Tzermiadianos MN, Tsitsopoulos PP, Voronov LI, Renner SM, Reo ML, Carandang G, Ritter-Lang K, Havey RM. Primary and coupled motions after cervical total disc replacement using a compressible six-degree-of-freedom prosthesis. European Spine Journal, 2012; 21(4): 618–629.
Cervical and Lumbar Disc Arthroplasty: A Review of Current Implant Design and Outcomes – PMC
Compared safety profiles, range of motion (ROM), pain reduction (VAS), and disability scores (ODI) between single-level versus multi-level lumbar artificial disc replacements.
Citation: Schätz C, Ritter-Lang K, Gössel L, et al. Comparison of Single-Level and Multiple-Level Outcomes of Total Disc Arthroplasty: 24-Month Results. International Journal of Spine Surgery (IJSS), 2015; 9: 14
Long-term outcomes following lumbar total disc replacement with M6-L – PMC
Evaluated 24-month clinical outcomes, restoration of intervertebral disc height, and segment lordosis in lumbar degenerative disc disease treated with the M6-L prosthesis.