Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Currently, osteoporosis animal models used for biomechanical studies of spinal osteoporosis are ovariectomized animal models or drug-induced animal models, and they have many problems such as model establishment for a long time and poor reliability.
OBJECTIVE: To establish an animal model of osteoporotic vertebras rapidly by decalcifying fresh calf lumbar vertebras with Shandon TBD-1.
METHODS: Twenty-four calf lumbar vertebrae from four fresh calves were classified into three groups: in pre-experiment group, the vertebrae were immersed in Shandon TBD-1; in decalcified group, the vertebrae were decalcified by using Shandon TBD-1; in control group, no decalcification was done. The vertebrae were subjected to DEXA to measure bone mineral density (BMD). And then two pedicle screws were driven into calf lumbar vertebrae. After that, the maximum axial pullout strength was recorded.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The BMD of the vertebrae in the pre-experiment group was decreased with the time of decalcification. The BMD and the maximum axial pullout strength in the decalcified group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.01), and there was a linear positive correlation between the BMD and the maximum axial pullout strength. An animal model of osteoporotic vertebra can be established rapidly in calf by means of decalcifying fresh calf lumbar vertebras with Shandon TBD-1.