Dynamic stabilization devices in the treatment of low back pain

Dynamic stabilization has an important role in the treatment of the degenerative lumbar spine. Fusion of one or two motion segments may not significantly affect the total range of motion of the lumbar spine, but preserving flexibility of a motion segment may prevent accelerated adjacent segment disease. The primary objective of dynamic stabilization is to unload the disc. The other objective is to restrict abnormal motion that may increase disc loading. In addition, dynamic stabilization may permit prosthetic replacement of the disc even when facet joints are degenerated and may need to be excised for decompression. If a favorable environment is created by unloading the disc and preserving near normal motion, the disc may be able to repair itself, or may supplement the reparative potential of gene therapy.