Radiological observation of intervertebral disc degeneration caused by bilateral zygopophysial joint resection in rabbit / 中国矫形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

[Objective]To study the intervertebral disc degeneration induced by bilateral zygopophysial joint resection in New Zealand rabbits.[Method]Forty-five New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groupsgroup A,L_(4) and L_(5) inferior articular processes were en bloc excised,L_(5) and L_(6) superior articular processes were retained;its L_(6、7) and L_(3、4) as self-control group B;L_(3) to L_(7) paravertebral muscles were stripped and took L_(4、5),C_(5、6) as control group C.At one,two,four and eight months postoperatively,anterior-posterior and lateral X-ray film abnormal signs,including intervertebral space wedging,osteophyma formation at the edge of vertebral body and cartilage end plate celcification,were examined and counted.[Result]In the group C,cartilage end plate calcification,seldom intervertebral space narrowing,rare osteophyma formation at the edge of vertebral body and no lumbar spinal kyphosis were found in some rabbits.In the group A,cartilage end plate calcification began to found in the early stage on the L_(4、5) and L_(5、6),as time went on to the 8~(th) month postoperatively,almost all rabbits were found intervertebral space narrowing,osteophyma formation of vertebral space narrowing,osteophyma formation of vertebral body and cartilage end plate calcification.Conform kyphosis of L_(5、6) were also occurred at some rabbits.There was significant difference between group A and group C,but no difference with group B.[Conclusion]Radiological changes of L_(5、6) intervetevbral disc degeneration can be induced by excision of L_(5) and L_(6) zygopokhysial joint of rabbit.