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

  Objective: To establish a rabbit scoliosis model using the unilateral transverse process tension spring compression method.

  Method: Ten two month old New Zealand white rabbits were surgically treated with L2 and L5 right transverse process suspension springs. Before surgery, 1, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery, X-ray anteroposterior and lateral views were taken to measure the Cobb angle and spring length. After 8 weeks of imaging, 10 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: 5 in the Spring removal (SR) group and 5 in the Spring keeping (SK) group. The SR group rabbits were removed from their bodies and X-ray anteroposterior and lateral views were taken at 9 and 12 weeks to measure the Cobb angle and kyphosis angle. After 12 weeks, all rabbit top vertebrae and their upper vertebral bodies were taken for Micro CT scanning, and the bone volume fraction (BV/TV) of the upper and lower endplates of the top vertebrae was recorded. Perform statistical analysis on the experimental results using analysis of variance, non parametric tests, and Student's t-test.

  Result: By the end of the experiment, all rabbits had survived, with Cobb angles greater than 10 °. At different time points 1, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery, the Cobb angle and kyphosis angle were all greater than before surgery (P<0.05). 8="" after="" weeks="" of="" there="" was="" no="" significant="" difference="" in="" the="" cobb="" kyphosis="" and="" spring="" length="" between="" sr="" group="" sk="" p="">0.05). From week 12 after removing the spring, the Cobb angle and kyphosis angle in the SK group were larger than those in the SR group (P<0.05), during="" which="" the="" cobb="" angle="" and="" kyphosis="" in="" sr="" group="" gradually="" decreased.="" micro="" ct="" results="" showed="" that="" volume="" fraction="" of="" endplate="" bone="" on="" concave="" side="" was="" greater="" than="" convex="" side.="" throughout="" entire="" experimental="" deformation="" tension="" there="" no="" statistically="" significant="" difference="" p="">0.05).

  Conclusion: The unilateral transverse process tension spring compression model is a highly reproducible, simple and easy to operate animal spinal scoliosis model with a short experimental period.