Introduction Biomechanical properties of four different ventral surgical procedures at the canine fourth-fifth cervical (C4–C5) vertebral motion unit (VMU) were assessed and compared with the intact C4–C5 VMU.
Spine
Category: Spine
OBJECTIVE: To define boundaries of minimally invasive integrated endoscopic hemilaminectomy at 4 sites in the canine thoracolumbar spine.
STUDY DESIGN: Experimental, randomized cadaveric study.
ANIMALS: Six cadaver dogs that had been humanely euthanized for reasons unrelated to this study.
Category: Spine
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate safety and efficacy of a novel technique for cervical stabilization.
STUDY DESIGN: In vivo experimental.
ANIMALS: Four normal adult quarterhorse crossbreed horses (2-4 years of age, > 250 kg).
Low back pain, related to degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD), affects millions of people worldwide. Clinical studies using oral cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors have shown beneficial effects, although side-effects were reported. Therefore, intradiscal delivery of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be an alternative treatment strategy to halt degeneration and address IVD-related pain.
Category: Spine
OBJECTIVES: To describe a surgical technique using bilateral twisted string-of-pearls locking plates for lumbosacral fracture-luxation in dogs and cats.
Category: Fracture Fixation and Implants - Spine
Notochordal cells (NCs) reside in the core of the healthy disc and produce soluble factors that can stimulate nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs). These NC-derived factors may be applied in intervertebral disc regeneration for treatment of low-back pain. However, identification of the active soluble factors is challenging. Therefore a novel approach to directly use porcine NC-rich NP matrix (NCM) is introduced.
Category: Biologics - Osteoarthritis - Spine
Pain due to spontaneous intervertebral disc (IVD) disease is common in dogs. In chondrodystrophic (CD) dogs, IVD disease typically develops in the cervical or thoracolumbar spine at about 3-7 years of age, whereas in non-chondrodystrophic (NCD) dogs, it usually develops in the caudal cervical or lumbosacral spine at about 6-8 years of age. IVD degeneration is characterized by changes in the biochemical composition and mechanical integrity of the IVD. In the degenerated IVD, the content of glycosaminoglycan (GAG, a proteoglycan side chain) decreases and that of denatured collagen increases.
Category: Osteoarthritis - Spine
Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability worldwide, with an estimated 80% of the American population suffering from a painful back condition at some point during their lives. The most common cause of LBP is intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IVDD), a condition that can be difficult to treat, either surgically or medically, with current available therapies. Thus, understanding the pathological mechanisms of IVDD and developing novel treatments are critical for improving outcome and quality of life in people living with LBP.
Category: Osteoarthritis - Spine
The socioeconomic burden of chronic back pain related to intervertebral disc (IVD) disease is high and current treatments are only symptomatic. Minimally invasive strategies that promote biological IVD repair should address this unmet need. Notochordal cells (NCs) are replaced by chondrocyte-like cells (CLCs) during IVD maturation and degeneration.
BACKGROUND/CONTEXT: Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is associated with longitudinal remodeling of paravertebral tissues. While chronic vertebral changes in advanced stages of DDD are well-studied, very little data exists on acute vertebral bone remodeling at the onset and progression of DDD.
PURPOSE: To longitudinally characterize bony remodeling in a rodent model of disc injury-induced DDD.
STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: In vivo animal study involving a rat annulus fibrosus injury model of DDD.
Category: Spine