title: An animal model of femoral head osteonecrosis induced by a single injection of absolute alcohol: an experimental study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The lack of an experimental animal model that can reliably mimic all stages of osteonecrosis of the femoral head has hindered progress toward the successful prevention and treatment of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A goat model of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) was established and observed from the early to the intermediate-to-late stage of mechanical failure. Absolute alcohol was injected slowly into the center of bilateral femoral heads in 12 adult Small Tail Han goats. Postoperatively, the femoral heads were harvested and examined using macrostructural and histological analyses and radiographic and MRI examinations at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 25.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Macrostructural and radiographic examinations revealed that the contour of both femoral heads was deformed slightly at 12 weeks, but a contour deformation with joint space narrowing was observed at 25 weeks. Histologically, a strong concordance with the natural history of ONFH in humans was found. The present model demonstrated bone trabeculae, marrow necrosis, a reconstruction deficiency and destruction of the microcirculation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among quadrupedal models, the goat model of ONFH, which is induced by a single injection of absolute alcohol, may be suitable and valuable for the evaluation of various therapeutics and side effects in the treatment of ONFH.
authors: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Zhen-Hong
authors: ZH
authors: Zhu
authors: You-Shui
authors: YS
authors: Gao
authors: Shi-Hua
authors: SH
authors: Luo
authors: Bing-Fang
authors: BF
authors: Zeng
authors: Chang-Qing
authors: CQ
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005270:Femur Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005271:Femur Head Necrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005355:Fibrosis; D006041:Goats; D007267:Injections; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol