[Animal modeling] - Establishment of rabbit scoliosis model by compression of unilateral transverse process tension spring

  Objective: To establish a rabbit model of scoliosis by means of unilateral transverse process spring compression.

  Methods: Ten two month old New Zealand white rabbits were operated on to attach tension springs to the right transverse processes of L2 and L5. Before and 1, 4 and 8 weeks after the operation, X ray positive and lateral films were taken to measure Cobb angle and tension spring length. After taking films 8 weeks after the operation, 10 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: 5 rabbits in the Spring removal (SR) group and 5 rabbits in the Spring keeping (SK) group. The tension spring in the SR group was taken out, X ray positive and lateral films were taken at 9 and 12 weeks to measure Cobb angle and kyphosis angle. After 12 weeks, all rabbits' parietal vertebrae and their upper vertebral bodies were taken for micro CT scanning, and the bone volume fractions (BV/TV) of the upper and lower endplates of the parietal vertebrae were recorded. The experimental results were statistically analyzed by ANOVA, nonparametric test and Student's t-test.

  Results: By the end of the experiment, all rabbits survived and Cobb angle was greater than 10 °. Cobb angle and kyphosis angle at different time points 1, 4 and 8 weeks after operation were greater than those before operation (P<0.05). 8="" at="" weeks="" after="" there="" was="" no="" significant="" difference="" in="" cobb="" kyphosis="" angle="" and="" tension="" spring="" length="" between="" sr="" group="" sk="" p="">0.05). From 12 weeks after the tension spring was removed, the Cobb angle and kyphosis angle in SK group were larger than those in SR group (P<0.05), during="" which="" the="" cobb="" angle="" and="" kyphosis="" in="" sr="" group="" were="" gradually="" reduced.="" micro="" ct="" results="" showed="" that="" bone="" volume="" fraction="" of="" concave="" end="" plate="" was="" greater="" than="" convex="" plate.="" whole="" tension="" spring="" shape="" there="" no="" significant="" difference="" p="">0.05).

  Conclusion: Single lateral transverse process spring compression model is a kind of animal scoliosis model with high repeatability, simple operation and short experimental period.