Modeling Structural Support to Facilitate Novel Treatments of Degenerative Disc Disease

Authors

• Jose Luis Calderon, University of South AlabamaFollow

Files

Description

Over 600 million people worldwide suffered from low back pain in 2020, with projections for 2050 being over 800 million [1]. Annual costs associated with low back pain total over 450 billion dollars in the US alone [2]. This research serves as a proof-of-concept for the use of structural supports to facilitate intervertebral disc healing. This treatment would involve the implementation of these supports along with existing injection treatments to promote regeneration. In both models, along with the combined model, the ability for these supports to alleviate intervertebral disc height loss is shown. This indicates that these supports would serve to minimize disc height loss while injection treatments are encouraging healing of disc structures. With height loss minimized, the healing taking place would be encouraged along the optimal orientation, leading to lasting structural integrity.

Publication Date

5-2026

Disciplines

Biomedical Devices and Instrumentation | Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Engineering | Musculoskeletal, Neural, and Ocular Physiology | Orthopedics | Orthotics and Prosthetics | Other Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering | Other Rehabilitation and Therapy

Recommended Citation

Calderon, Jose Luis, "Modeling Structural Support to Facilitate Novel Treatments of Degenerative Disc Disease" (2026). Poster Presentations. 64.
https://jagworks.southalabama.edu/honors_college_posters/64