38. BIOMECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF CERVICAL SPINE DISLOCATION IN AN INNOVATIVE SPINAL CORD INJURY (SCI) MODEL

Abstract

Purpose: Recent studies have shown differences in short term spinal cord pathology between spinal column injury mechanisms, such as contusion and fracture-dislocation. Such differences may exist at longer time points, and thus survival studies are needed in the dislocation models. A more in-depth characterization of the dislocation model is needed for development of a mild-moderate cervical spine dislocation model in a rat that is suitable for survival studies. Specifically, our objective in this study was to determine the dislocation displacement that produces initial spinal column failure in a Sprague-Dawley rat model and to validate a consistent injury at the desired dislocation in-vitro and in-vivo.

Method: For the dislocation model, the dorsal ligaments and facets at C4–C5 were removed to mimic the type of posterior element fracture and ligament injury commonly seen in a bilateral fracture-dislocation. C3 and C4 were clamped together and held stationary while the clamp holding C5 and C6 was connected to an electromagnetic actuator and displaced dorsally to produce the injury while force and displacement were recorded. Twenty-eight isolated cervical spine specimens of Sprague-Dawley rats were used to determine dislocation displacement at initial spinal column failure. The C4–C5 segment sustained dislocation (> 3mm) injury at 0.05mm/s (n=11), 100mm/s (n=4) and 1000mm/s (n=13). Initial spinal column failure was defined at with maximum force during the dislocation. A dislocation displacement of 1.4mm was applied to 7 isolated specimens and 4 anesthetized rats at 430mm/s. The spinal column failure was inspected up to 3 days after injury, as well as hemorrhage of spinal cord in-situ.

Results: The dislocation displacement at in-vitro spinal column failure was 0.95mm±0.32 and not significantly different among specimens at the three dislocation speeds. Under a dislocation displacement of 1.4mm, rupture of the C4–C5 disc occurred in all in-vitro (0.67mm±0.38) and in-vivo (0.65mm±0.17) cases. SCI hemorrhage at epicenter was observed in 3 of 4 cases.

Conclusion: The initial spinal column failure in an innovative SCI model occurs at displacement between 0.65mm and 0.95mm. Dislocation displacement of 1.4mm results in spinal column failure consistently and SCI hemorrhage, and may be suitable for survival studies.