TY - JOUR
TI - Spontaneous interbody fusion after controlled injuries to the spine: An
experimental study in rabbits
AU - Korres, DS
AU - Babis, GC
AU - Paraskevakou, H
AU - Stamos, K and
AU - Tsarouchas, J
AU - Lykomitros, V
JO - Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques (formerly Journal of Spinal Disorders)
PY - 2000
VL - 13
TODO - 1
SP - 31-35
PB - Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
SN - 1536-0652, 1539-2465
TODO - 10.1097/00002517-200002000-00006
TODO - spinal fusion; autofusion; spinal injury
TODO - To evaluate the rationale of spontaneous spine fusion after a spinal
injury, the authors conducted an experimental study that consisted of
three types of controlled injuries to a rabbit spine model. The first
was injury to the intervertebral disk (type I injury). The second was
injury of the intervertebral disk along with injury to one of the
adjacent vertebral end plates (type II). In type III injury, both the
opposing end plates were injured along with the intervertebral disk. In
38 rabbits, a total of 82 injuries of these three types were inflicted.
Twenty-six injuries were of type I (n = 22 rabbits), 26 were type II (n
= 24 rabbits), and 30 were type III (n = 26 rabbits). Spontaneous fusion
occurred only in type III injuries. From the 30 type III injuries,
fusion occurred in 20 (66.6%). For an autofusion to occur, both
epiphyseal plates may be injured. In the clinical situation, this
observation suggests that a radiographically obscure lesion of both
neighboring vertebrae may proceed to autofusion of that spinal segment
observed later.
ER -