Treatments for disc degeneration have historically included conservative modalities, such as rest, heat, electrotherapy, physical therapy, and analgesics to surgery. Currently, there are two main surgical techniques for treatment of disc degeneration: (1) nucleotomy or diskectomy, i.e., excision of part or all of the degenerated disc, which is typically performed for treatment of radicular syndrome in the case of disc herniation; and (2) spinal fusion, i.e., grafting bone between the vertebrae adjacent to the degenerated disc to eliminate articulation at the damaged segment, which is typically performed for treatment of degeneration together with instability and reduction of the intervertebral space. Rigid internal fixation may also be used to promote fusion.