Figure 4.

Evolution of disc height relative to the initial dimensions after dissection: (A) during pre-conditioning under physiological (phys) or degenerative (deg) conditions (n = 12) following treatment with fibrin gel or saline (PBS) in (B) physiological discs and (C) degenerative discs (n = 6). Note that the loading protocol induced a higher disc height recovery in physiologically-loaded discs than in degenerative-loaded discs only in the initial phase of the loading (Day 2) and that these were levelled out in long term (Day 7). In physiologically-loaded discs, treatment with saline (PBS) initially promoted a better preservation of disc height following loading (Day 8 AL) and a higher swelling potential (Day 8 AR) than fibrin, but these differences were evened out in long term (Day 14). In degenerative-loaded discs, saline was ineffective in preserving disc height following loading both initially and in long term. AL = disc height after loading, AR = disc height after free-swelling recovery. PBS = phosphate-buffered saline.