Bony Stress and Its Association With Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in the Lumbar Spine: A Systematic Review of Clinical and Basic Science Studies.

Most studies suggest that the prevalence of IVD degeneration increases in the presence of bony stress; whether a causal relationship exists is unclear. The literature recommends early diagnosis and clinical suspicion of IVD degeneration and bony stress. Longitudinal studies are required to explore causal relationships between IVD degeneration and bony stress.