A new technique for minimal invasive complete spinal cord injury in minipigs

Acta Neurochirurgica, 2018 · DOI: 10.1007/s00701-017-3442-3 · Published: January 12, 2018

Spinal Cord Injury Surgery Research Methodology & Design

Simple Explanation

This study introduces a new method for creating spinal cord injuries in minipigs using a minimally invasive technique. The method involves inserting a balloon catheter into the spinal canal and inflating it to compress the spinal cord, causing injury. The procedure is guided by computed tomography (CT) scans to ensure accurate placement of the catheter and to monitor the compression of the spinal cord. This approach aims to reduce the risks associated with traditional open surgery methods. The researchers found that this technique consistently produced complete spinal cord injuries in the minipigs, leading to stable neurological deficits that could be monitored over a 4-month period.

Study Duration

4 Months

Participants

10 female Göttingen minipigs

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The CT-guided balloon compression technique successfully induced complete spinal cord injuries in minipigs.
2
The procedure resulted in stable and predictable neurological deficits in the hind limbs of the minipigs over a 4-month follow-up period.
3
MRI and immunohistochemical analyses confirmed the completeness of the spinal cord injury and the presence of cystic cavities at the lesion site.

Research Summary

This study introduces a new, minimal invasive, CT-guided spinal cord injury procedure for minipigs, using a balloon catheter to compress the spinal cord. The procedure was standardized and resulted in complete SCI, as confirmed by neurological assessments, MRI, and immunohistochemistry. The authors suggest this method offers an improved translational model for SCI research due to its reduced invasiveness and high inter-animal comparability.

Practical Implications

Improved Animal Model

Provides a more refined and less invasive method for creating SCI models in minipigs, potentially improving animal welfare and data quality.

Translational Research

Offers a more relevant model for studying SCI due to the similarities between minipig and human spinal cord anatomy and physiology.

Therapeutic Development

Facilitates the study of therapeutic interventions for SCI, particularly those requiring a complete SCI model and high inter-animal comparability.

Study Limitations

1
The minipig model may not be suitable for detecting discrete therapeutic effects due to differences in neuroanatomic/functional organization of the motor system compared to humans.
2
The balloon compression model may lack the highly acute component of tSCI, although rapid inflation of the balloon can add aspects of this type of trauma.
3
A clear limitation of the (mini)pig as a translational model for human SCI is the fact that (mini)pigs lack fine neuroanatomic/functional organization of the motor system, which is found in human and non-human primates.

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Back to Spinal Cord Injury