Establishing a rat model of atrophic nonunion by using circular external fixator combined with periosteum cauterization
10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2788
- Author:
Yan ZHANG
1
Author Information
1. Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Animal model;
Atrophic nonunion;
Bone defect model;
Circular external fixator;
Hypertrophic nonunion;
Osteotomy;
Periosteal cauterization;
Tibia
- From:
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research
2020;24(29):4650-4655
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Establishment of a standard experimental animal model of atrophic nonunion is necessary for experimental study and related treatment of atrophic nonunion. However, the common modeling methods cannot accurately simulate atrophic nonunion in the clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: To construct a standard animal model of atrophic nonunion. METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. All animals were subjected to bone cutting at the middle-lower segment of the right tibia and the circular external fixator was applied to keep a 4 mm defect interval. The animals in the experimental group were subjected to an additional cauterization of the periosteum at the fracture end of the tibia with a length of 1 mm. The periosteum was not treated in the control group. The study protocol was approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine on January 01, 2018, with approval No. TCMF1-2018002. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After modeling, there was one case of loose external fixation in each group, and no infection occurred in both groups. Imaging examination showed no bone connection and no sign of healing between the fractures of the tibia in the two groups at 6 weeks after modeling. Imaging and histological findings showed no healing at the end of fracture but typical atrophic nonunion in the experimental group at 12 weeks after modeling. By contrast, six animals had atrophic nonunion, and eight had hypertrophic nonunion in the control group. Overall, the animal model of atrophic tibial nonunion can be successfully constructed using circular external fixator combined with periosteal cauterization at the fracture end.
