Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Primate is the best animal to establish a model of spinal implants. However, ethics and cost limit its application. Mixed-breed dogs have similar anatomic structures as human. Moreover, it is easy to obtain with low cost, so it may replace primate to serve as models.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of canine lumbar spine to establish the anterior interfixation model following measurements of related anatomic data.
METHODS: A total of 9 adult healthy dogs were selected. The transversal diameter, sagittal diameter and height of vertebral body and disc were measured, and the artificial vertebral body replacement was performed. Bone graft fusion was observed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The transversal diameter, sagittal diameter and height of vertebral body and disc increased gradually from L₁ to L₇, and the height was greatly exceeded its sagittal diameter. All dogs survived, but one was paraplegia. All the others stood and acted in 12 h to 72 h after operation. The fusion effect was proved to be good by imageology and histology. The establishment of models was simple and cost-effective, and the biocompatibility of bone tissues and implants, as well as the bone tissue ingrowth can be observed. The lumbar spine of dog can be used as an anterior interfixation model in vitro test.