Figure 1

Changes in intervertebral disc height index after annulus fibrosus puncture and injection. Changes in the intervertebral disc height index (DHI) after the annulus fibrosus (AF) puncture and saline or Link N injections. The DHI was measured at 2-week intervals to quantify changes in disc height. Values represent the mean normalized %DHI ± standard deviation of Link N-injected and saline-injected discs at each time point. By 4 weeks after the Link N injection, the mean normalized %DHI of injected discs in the Link N group was higher than in the saline group. This difference was maintained during the next 8 weeks. By 12 weeks after the Link N injection, the mean normalized %DHI of injected discs in the Link N group was significantly higher than in the saline group (*P < 0.05).