Spinal fixation after laminectomy in pigs prevents postoperative spinal cord injury
Slot, Emma M.H.; de Boer, Bart; Redegeld, Saskia; van Thoor, Sander; Moayeri, Nizar; Slooff, Willem Bart; Schaafsma, Irene A.; Meij, Björn; van Doormaal, Tristan P.C.
(2022) Animal models and experimental medicine, volume 5, issue 2, pp. 153 - 160
(Article)
Abstract
Background: A safe, effective, and ethically sound animal model is essential for preclinical research to investigate spinal medical devices. We report the initial failure of a porcine spinal survival model and a potential solution by fixating the spine. Methods: Eleven female Dutch Landrace pigs underwent a spinal lumbar interlaminar decompression
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with durotomy and were randomized for implantation of a medical device or control group. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed before termination. Results: Neurological deficits were observed in 6 out of the first 8 animals. Three of these animals were terminated prematurely because they reached the predefined humane endpoint. Spinal cord compression and myelopathy was observed on postoperative MRI imaging. We hypothesized postoperative spinal instability with epidural hematoma, inherent to the biology of the model, and subsequent spinal cord injury as a potential cause. In the subsequent 3 animals, we fixated the spine with Lubra plates. All these animals recovered without neurological deficits. The extent of spinal cord compression on MRI was variable across animals and did not seem to correspond well with neurological outcome. Conclusion: This study shows that in a porcine in vivo model of interlaminar decompression and durotomy, fixation of the spine after lumbar interlaminar decompression is feasible and may improve neurological outcomes. Additional research is necessary to evaluate this hypothesis.
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Keywords: fixation, interlaminar decompression, medical device model, spinal cord injury, Spinal Cord Compression/diagnostic imaging, Animals, Swine, Spinal Cord Injuries/prevention & control, Female, Laminectomy, Decompression, Surgical, Medical Laboratory Technology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, veterinary (miscalleneous), Medicine (miscellaneous), Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Journal Article
ISSN: 2096-5451
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Note: Funding Information: This research was supported by a research grant from ZonMw (114024064). Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. Animal Models and Experimental Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of The Chinese Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences.
(Peer reviewed)