Gene therapy applications for lumbar fusion surgery

Abstract

Recent advances in gene therapy have taken this technique to actual realization as a potential medical therapy for the treatment of spinal disorders. As our understanding of spinal disease extends down to a molecular level within individual cells, improvements in gene therapy may allow for improved and less invasive spinal treatments. As a learning and research tool, gene therapy technology may allow a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of spinal diseases and lead to novel interventions. The purpose of this article is to provide the spine clinician with a basic understanding of gene therapy, the mechanisms involved, the variety of methods available to implement this technology, and to demonstrate recent and potential future applications of gene therapy for the treatment of spinal disorders.