title: Experimental model of posterolateral spinal arthrodesis in sheep. Part 1. Experimental procedures and results with autologous bone graft.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche sur les Maladies du Squelette, Berck sur Mer, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guigui
authors.forename: P Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Plais
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Flautre
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Viguier
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Blary
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sales De Gauzy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chopin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lavaste
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hardouin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D012756:Sheep; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous