Inclusion Criteria Summary:

• Be between 18 and 60 years of age
• Have evidence of degenerative disc disease (DDD)
• History of back and/or radicular pain which is severe, ongoing and recurrent
• Minimum period of prior conservative care
• Moderate Oswestry Disability Index score
• Moderate pain score
• Be likely to return for all follow-up visits
• Be willing and able to provide Informed Consent for study participation.

Exclusion Criteria Summary:

• Any back or leg pain of unknown origin
• Previous trauma to the study treatment level
• Previous retroperitoneal surgery
• Other spinal surgery at affected level
• Previous thoracic or lumbar fusion
• Documented abnormal abdominal vessel or muscular/fascial pathology or morphology
• Degenerative spondylolisthesis
• Ischemic (spondylolytic) spondylolisthesis
• Spondylitis
• Documented significant spinal, foraminal or lateral stenosis
• Severely reduced disc space height
• Documented presence of free nuclear fragment
• Extensive facet arthritis or degeneration of the facets at any level noted on MRI, CT or X-ray
• Scoliosis of the lumbar spine
• Metabolic bone disease
• Active systemic infection
• Active malignancy or history of metastatic malignancy
• Any terminal or autoimmune disease
• Any other disease, condition or surgery which might impair healing
• Recent history of chemical or alcohol dependence
• Current or extended use of any drug known to interfere with bone or soft tissue healing
• Known metal allergy
• Morbid obesity
• Transitional vertebrae at level to be treated that has not clearly fused
• Currently a prisoner
• Currently involved in spinal litigation
• Currently experiencing an episode of major mental illness
• Pregnancy at time of enrollment, since this would contraindicate abdominal surgery
• Lives more than 300 miles from a study center or participation in any other investigational drug, biologic or medical device study.