Experimental model of posterolateral spinal arthrodesis in sheep. Part 1. Experimental procedures and results with autologous bone graft.
OBJECTIVE
The authors evaluated the reliability in obtaining a posterolateral spinal arthrodesis (PSA) with autologous bone graft.


BACKGROUND
Posterolateral spinal arthrodesis using autogenous cancellous bone graft is the most simple and efficient technique to get a spinal graft. No extensive biomechanical study of PSA is available. Thus, an experimental model of PSA is needed.


METHODS
Eleven sheep underwent lumbar autologous bone grafts and Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentations, and four sheep were used as controls. Sacrifice and biomechanical evaluation of the lumbar spines were performed after 1 year.


RESULTS
All grafts appeared continuous. A large decrease of flexibility (in rotation and in translation) was found in grafted spines in every direction. Failure in extension occurred at a mean value of 35.26 +/- 3.71 Nm.


CONCLUSIONS
A constant and homogenous PSA appears to be obtained in sheep under conditions close to the human surgery.
Guigui
P
P
Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies du Squelette, Berck sur Mer, France.
Plais
P Y
PY
Flautre
B
B
Viguier
E
E
Blary
M C
MC
Sales De Gauzy
J
J
Chopin
D
D
Lavaste
F
F
Hardouin
P
P
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D012756:Sheep; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous