Patent ID: 8911481

Claim:
A method of treating a subchondral defect in a subchondral region of a vertebral body to alter the progression of osteoarthritis of the spine, the method comprising: identifying a subchondral defect in a subchondral region of a vertebral body, the subchondral defect including a bone marrow lesion, the vertebral body including an articular surface adjacent the subchondral region; creating, in the vertebral body that contains the subchondral defect in the subchondral region, a subchondral access path to an area in or adjacent to the bone marrow lesion for injecting an injectable bone filling material into said area for reinforcing bone located in the bone marrow lesion, wherein said creating preserves an existing condition of the articular surface and is conducted without further creating a void in or adjacent to the bone marrow lesion through compaction of bone tissue; and injecting an injectable bone filling material into said area via the subchondral access path, wherein the injectable bone filling material is left in the area for hardening in the area so as to reinforce bone located in the bone marrow lesion.