Alexander Tkachev

Tkachev Spine Clinic

Abstract Title: Inflammation-Preserving Approach for Spontaneous Lumbar Disc Herniation Resorption: A Prospective MRI-Based Clinical Outcome Study

Biography: Alexander Tkachev, MD, is a neurologist, clinic founder, and spine rehabilitation specialist based in Moscow. He pioneered a non-invasive disc resorption protocol now used in thousands of patients. His work focuses on evidence-based alternatives to spine surgery. Dr. Tkachev actively collaborates with international research groups in MRI-based diagnostics and regenerative spine care.

Research Interest: This prospective observational study investigates a novel inflammation-preserving treatment strategy for acute lumbar disc herniation (LDH), excluding the use of NSAIDs or corticosteroids. Ninety symptomatic patients (mean age 48.6 years) underwent a non-invasive treatment protocol including gabapentin and 12 sessions of acupuncture. Follow-up MRIs were conducted every three months for one year, measuring changes in sagittal herniation size on T2-weighted images. Patients with <40% resorption continued treatment beyond 12 sessions. All patients demonstrated complete radiological resorption within one year (mean: 4.4 months). At 3 months, 21.1% already showed significant reduction. No surgical interventions were required. Pain (VAS-Leg) improved across all groups, with weak correlation to baseline herniation size or initial gabapentin use. This is the first prospective study to demonstrate 100% disc resorption using a treatment model that preserves the natural inflammatory phase, outperforming historical resorption rates (66.7%) seen in meta-analyses of conventional care. The findings suggest a paradigm shift: avoiding suppression of the acute inflammatory response may enhance the body’s innate capacity to resolve disc pathology. This model offers a safe, drug-sparing, and cost-effective alternative for LDH management.