The Effects of Vertebrolplasty to the Adjacent Intervertebral Disc in a Rabbit Model

Nan Shaokui; Ruan Dike

Abstract：Objective To establish vertebrolplasty animal model to observe the effects of Vertebroplasty to adjacent intervertebral disc(IVD) degeneration.Methods 12 healthy mature New Zealand Rabbits were chosen.For every rabbit L4～5 and L5～6 were treated as operative IVD (OPD);L3～4 and L6-7 were treated as sham-operative IVD (SOPD);L2～ 3 and L7/S1 were treated as control IVD (CD).X-ray and MRI examinations were taken for each rabbit before the surgery,right after the surgery,12 weeks and 24 weeks later.We euthanized 6 rabbits at 12 weeks and another 6 rabbits at 24 weeks postoperative,took histopathology test (HE stain),determined the content of Glycuronic acid in nucleus pulposus with Sulfuric Acid Carbazole.Results MRI examination results:The nucleus pulposus area signals of 12 weeks postoperative for OPD,SOPD and CD were no significant changes compared with signals of the preoperative image.The nucleus pulposus area signals of 24 weeks postoperative for OPD,Sham-OPD and CD were same too.Organization morphological results (HE staining):The HE staining slice of OPD,SOPD and CD did not show signs of intervertebral disc degeneration at 12 weeks or 24 weeks later.12 and 24 weeks after the surgery,the Glycuronic acid content of OPD,SOPD respectively compared with the control disc.The difference there were no significant(P＞0.05).Conclusion In the experiment VP animal model was established successfully.In this animal model,no significant sign of degeneration was observed in adjacent IVD.