title: Current Animal Models of Postoperative Spine Infection and Potential Future Advances.
abstract: Implant related infection following spine surgery is a devastating complication for patients and can potentially lead to significant neurological compromise, disability, morbidity, and even mortality. This paper provides an overview of the existing animal models of postoperative spine infection and highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each model. In addition, there is discussion regarding potential modifications to these animal models to better evaluate preventative and treatment strategies for this challenging complication. Current models are effective in simulating surgical procedures but fail to evaluate infection longitudinally using multiple techniques. Potential future modifications to these models include using advanced imaging technologies to evaluate infection, use of bioluminescent bacterial species, and testing of novel treatment strategies against multiple bacterial strains. There is potential to establish a postoperative spine infection model using smaller animals, such as mice, as these would be a more cost-effective screening tool for potential therapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Center for Health Sciences, Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles, CA , USA.
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Stavrakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Center for Health Sciences, Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles, CA , USA.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Loftin
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Center for Health Sciences, Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles, CA , USA.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Lord
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Center for Health Sciences, Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles, CA , USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Center for Health Sciences, Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles, CA , USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Manegold
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Center for Health Sciences, Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles, CA , USA.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Dworsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Center for Health Sciences, Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles, CA , USA.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Scaduto
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Center for Health Sciences, Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles, CA , USA.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Bernthal
keywords: animal; model; postoperative infection; review; spine