OBJECTIVETo evaluate the anti degenerative effect of pectin/polyvinyl alcohol composite (CoPP) hydrogel as artificial nucleus material in an animal model.

METHODSThirty-six New Zealand white rabbits were used to build animal models, the L₄₋₅ intervertebral discs were pierced with a Gauge#16 needle and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or CoPP implants were inserted into the holes. For comparative purposes, L₃₋₄ discs underwent sham treatment or control treatment in which the disc was pierced but no implant was inserted. All the discs were divided into four groups as follows: sham disc group, pierced disc group, PVA disc group and CoPP disc group. The discs were analyzed radiologically and histologically for degenerative changes at 1, 3 or 6 months after surgery.

RESULTSNone of the animals died from operative complications, such as paraplegia or infection before being killed. Macroscopically, none of the implants showed any signs of displacement at the time of harvest. The radiological analysis revealed that significantly less disc height loss was found with the PVA and CoPP replacement treatment than with the pierced treatment (P < 0.05). Changes in disc height after the replacement treatment were not significantly different from that after the sham treatment (P > 0.05). Histological degeneration of the replaced discs was delayed in comparison with that of the pierced discs (P < 0.05), but progressed with time, and PVA replacement showed faster disc degeneration than CoPP replacement.

CONCLUSIONSDegeneration of the anulus fibrosus after the CoPP prosthetic nucleus replacement treatment is delayed by preserving disc height and occupying the space of the nucleus pulposus, and it has great potential clinical application value.