Porcine Model of Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review

Neurotrauma Reports, 2022 · DOI: 10.1089/neur.2022.0038 · Published: January 1, 2022

Spinal Cord Injury Research Methodology & Design

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition with limited treatments. Animal models, especially porcine models, are crucial for research due to their similarities to humans. This review examines characteristics in porcine SCI models, covering swine selection, injury methods, post-operative care, and various testing parameters to aid researchers. The review summarizes interventions tested in the porcine SCI model, including mean arterial pressure augmentation, electrical stimulation, stem cell therapy, hypothermia, and gene therapy.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Average sample size of 15 pigs

Evidence Level

Systematic Review

Key Findings

1
The review included 63 studies, with 33 examining SCI pathogenesis and 30 testing interventions, highlighting the model's utility in both areas.
2
The most common interventions tested were mean arterial pressure augmentation, electrical stimulation, and stem cell therapy, showing their prominence in SCI research.
3
The porcine model is notable for its clinical translatability and is emerging as a valuable pre-clinical study tool.

Research Summary

This systematic review evaluates the characteristics of the porcine model for spinal cord injury (SCI) research and summarizes the interventions tested using this model. The review identifies 63 studies, highlighting the increasing use of the porcine model due to its similarity to humans and its applicability for testing various interventions. The study concludes that the porcine model is a valuable preclinical tool for SCI research but requires careful consideration of various testing parameters to ensure optimal results.

Practical Implications

Guideline for Researchers

The review serves as a guideline for researchers implementing and testing the porcine SCI model, providing insights into swine selection, injury methods, and post-operative care.

Translational Research

The model's clinical translatability makes it valuable for preclinical studies, potentially accelerating the development of effective treatments for human SCI.

Optimized Interventions

Understanding the various testing parameters can help researchers optimize interventions and improve outcomes in SCI studies.

Study Limitations

1
Variation in injury models and outcome methods precluded a quantitative meta-analysis.
2
Many of the studies use small sample sizes, illustrating the need for more extensive testing.
3
Excluded several related pathologies such as spinal cord ischemia.

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