Percutaneous annulus fibrosus needle puncture versus muscular annulus fibrosus knife penetration for establishing a rabbit model of intervertebral disc degeneration

He Qing; Li Bing; Zhuo Xiang-long; Lai Cao-sheng; Tie Chao-en

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2014.13.016

Abstract：BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that the establishment of disc degeneration model provides experimental support for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration, but the current study still lacks of recognized optimal animal models. <br> OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences of percutaneous annulus fibrosus needle puncture with muscular annulus fibrosus knife penetration in establishing a rabbit model of intervertebral disc degeneration. <br> METHODS: The New Zealand rabbit models of intervertebral disc degeneration were established by percutaneous annulus fibrosus needle puncture and muscular annulus fibrosus knife penetration. At 4, 8 and 16 weeks after puncture, lumbar disc degeneration and histopathological conditions were observed using magnetic resonance imaging and histopathology examination. <br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At 4 weeks after the puncture, T2-weighted image signal reduced, darken, and disc height decreased in rabbit nucleus pulposus of the two groups. T2 signal intensity scores were lower in the percutaneous annulus fibrosus needle puncture group compared with the muscular annulus fibrosus knife penetration group (P < 0.05). At 8 weeks after puncture, T2 signal intensity scores were increased in both groups. T2 signal intensity scores were lower in the percutaneous annulus fibrosus needle puncture group compared with the muscular annulus fibrosus knife penetration group (P < 0.05). At 16 weeks after puncture, T2 signal intensity reached a peak, and no significant difference was detected between the two groups. Intervertebral space became significantly narrowed. The brightness of the disc became black. There were no significant differences between the two groups. The time of operation was shorter in the percutaneous annulus fibrosus needle puncture group than that in the muscular annulus fibrosus knife penetration group (P < 0.05). Infection rate was 5.6% in the muscular annulus fibrosus knife penetration group. No infection was observed in the percutaneous annulus fibrosus needle puncture group. Results verified that the time of establishing a rabbit model of intervertebral disc degeneration using percutaneous annulus fibrosus needle puncture was short, and the infection rate was low. Thus, its effects were better than muscular annulus fibrosus knife penetration.