ABSTRACT
Interbody fusion devices are used in human medicine for treating degenerative diseases of the spine. Currently, there is not a universally accepted assessment tool for determining fusion, and the definitive criteria for diagnosing a successful interbody fusion remain controversial. The aim of this study was to describe microscopic and helical computed tomography (CT) imaging in the assessment of lumbar interbody fusion using cylindrical threaded titanium expanding cage in sheep. One cylindrical threaded expanding titanium cage (Proconcept--SA, Orange, France) was inserted through a transperitoneal approach after radical discectomy and packed with cancellous bone autograft in five adult sheep. The subjects were euthanatized after three, six, 12, 18 and 24 months. CT images revealed lumbar fusion at 12 months post operation, whereas microscopic evaluations indicated the presence of lumbar fusion at 18 months. CT and histological grades were the same in 65% of the cases observed. There were not a significant difference between CT, histological and micro radiographic grades. Helical CT scanning can be considered to be a suitable method for the monitoring of lumbar fusion as it enables observation of the deposition of bony bridging within the cage.
Subject(s)
Bone Transplantation/veterinary , Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery , Sheep Diseases/surgery , Spinal Diseases/veterinary , Spinal Fusion/veterinary , Animals , Bone Transplantation/methods , Disease Models, Animal , Female , Lumbar Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging , Sheep , Sheep Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Spinal Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Spinal Diseases/surgery , Spinal Fusion/instrumentation , Spinal Fusion/methods , Time Factors , Titanium/therapeutic use , Tomography, Spiral Computed/methods , Tomography, Spiral Computed/veterinary , Treatment OutcomeSubject(s)
Brain Diseases/veterinary , Cerebral Cortex/surgery , Cestode Infections/veterinary , Sheep Diseases/surgery , Animals , Brain Diseases/parasitology , Brain Diseases/pathology , Brain Diseases/surgery , Cerebral Cortex/parasitology , Cestode Infections/pathology , Cestode Infections/surgery , Female , Male , Sheep , Sheep Diseases/parasitology , Sheep Diseases/pathologyABSTRACT
A controlled carboplatin delivery system using biodegradable polymer has been used in this study. The purpose was to evaluate the local and systemic effects of injectable, biodegradable microspheres containing carboplatin when injected as aqueous suspension subcutaneously in rats. Biocompatibility and toxicity of empty microspheres and microspheres loaded with carboplatin were evaluated by clinical and histological examination. The diffusion of carboplatin in tissues and time of drug release were evaluated by platinum determination in plasma and tissues over the time. The results of the study suggest that microspheres provide a sustained slow release of carboplatin and that multiple inoculations of microspheres containing drug and no evidence of local or systemic toxicity is found. This device may be useful in the treatment of solid tumours.
