True or false? In IVD degeneration progression, herniated disc occurs after osteophyte formation.

In intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, herniated discs typically occur as a result of changes in the disc's structure and integrity, often preceding the formation of osteophytes. Herniation can occur when the nucleus pulposus, the soft inner core of the disc, bulges or protrudes through the weakened annulus fibrosus, which usually happens due to degeneration or injury.

Osteophyte formation, which is the development of bony growths around the edges of vertebrae, is a response to chronic mechanical stress and degeneration of the surrounding spinal structures, often a later consequence of degenerative changes. Therefore, the timeline generally places herniated discs as an earlier event in the degeneration sequence compared to osteophyte development.

Understanding this sequence is important because it reflects the pathophysiological changes in the disc and surrounding structures during degeneration, highlighting how early intervention may help in managing or mitigating these conditions before more significant changes like osteophyte formation occur.