Observational studyActa neurochirurgica2020
Lumbar disc extrusions reduce faster than bulging discs due to an active role of macrophages in sciatica.
Observational study in Acta neurochirurgica, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 27 citations in OpenAlex.
- Potential Role of Mast Cells in Intervertebral Disc Ageing, Herniation Resolution, and Degeneration: Evidence and Lessons Learned from Studies of Mast Cells in Other Connective Tissues.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Development and internal validation of a nomogram for predicting short-term functional improvement after pharmacological treatment in severe symptomatic lumbar disk herniation.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- MRI Predictors for Improvement Without Any Intervention of Clinical Symptoms in Patients With Lumbar Disc Herniation, Questioning the True Need for Surgery.Radiology research and practice · 2026Article
- Lumbar Disc Herniation Resorption: When and How Does It Occur?Neurospine · 2026Review
- M2a macrophages identified as a potential therapeutic candidate for intervertebral disc herniation regression.Osteoarthritis and cartilage open · 2025Article
- Role of macrophage in intervertebral disc degeneration.Bone research · 2025Review
- Role of neurogenic inflammation in intervertebral disc degeneration.World journal of orthopedics · 2025Review
- Lumbar disc herniation reabsorption: a review of clinical manifestations, mechanisms, and conservative treatments.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Review
- Inflammation and macrophage polarization are associated with Modic change type in lumbar radiculopathy.Brain & spine · 2025Article
- Exploring the impact of macrophage polarization and Modic changes on baseline clinical condition in radiculopathy due to lumbar disc herniation.Brain & spine · 2025Article
- Prediction and Mechanisms of Spontaneous Resorption in Lumbar Disc Herniation: Narrative Review.Spine surgery and related research · 2024Review
- Prevalence, clinical predictors, and mechanisms of resorption in lumbar disc herniation: a systematic review.Orthopedic reviews · 2024Article
- Macrophage-based therapy for intervertebral disc herniation: preclinical proof-of-concept.NPJ Regenerative medicine · 2023Article
- Characteristics and mechanisms of resorption in lumbar disc herniation.Arthritis research & therapy · 2022Review
- Study protocol: effect of infection, Modic and inflammation on clinical outcomes in surgery for radiculopathy (EIMICOR).BMC neurology · 2021Article
- Ozone as Modulator of Resorption and Inflammatory Response in Extruded Nucleus Pulposus Herniation. Revising Concepts.International journal of molecular sciences · 2021Review
- Interaction between piperine and genes associated with sciatica and its mechanism based on molecular docking technology and network pharmacology.Molecular diversity · 2021Article
- Disc inflammation and Modic changes show an interaction effect on recovery after surgery for lumbar disc herniation.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2019Article
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveThis retrospective observational histological study aims to associate the size and type of disc herniation with the degree of macrophage infiltration in disc material retrieved during disc surgery in patients with sciatica.
methodsDisc tissue of 119 sciatica patients was embedded in paraffin and stained with hematoxylin and CD68. Tissue samples were categorized as mild (0-10/cm
resultsBaseline characteristics and duration of symptoms before surgery were comparable in all macrophage infiltration groups. The degree of macrophage infiltration was not associated with herniation size at baseline, but significantly associated with reduction of size of the herniated disc at 1-year post surgery. Moreover, the degree of macrophage infiltration was higher in extrusion in comparison with bulging (protrusion) of the disc. Results were comparable in patients with and without Modic changes.
conclusionMacrophage infiltration was positively associated with an extruded type of disc herniation as well as the extent of reduction of the herniated disc during 1-year follow-up in patients with sciatica. This is an indication that the macrophages play an active role in reducing herniated discs. An extruded disc herniation has a larger surface for the macrophages to adhere to, which leads to more size reduction.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.