Our study establishes a rabbit model of disc degeneration which requires neither a chemical nor physical injury to the disc. Disc degeneration similar to that seen in man was created at levels proximal (L4-L5) and caudal (L7-S1) to a simulated lumbar fusion and was studied for up to nine months after arthrodesis. Loss of the normal parallel arrangement of collagen bundles within the annular lamellae was observed in intervertebral discs adjacent to the fusion at three months. By six months there was further disorganisation as well as loss of distinction between the lamellae themselves. By nine months the structure of the disc had been replaced by disorganised fibrous tissue, and annular tears were seen. There was an initial cellular proliferative response followed by loss of chondrocytes and notochordal cells in the nucleus pulposus. Degeneration was accompanied by a decrease in the monomer size of proteoglycans. Narrowing of the disc space, endplate sclerosis and the formation of osteophytes at adjacent disc spaces were observed radiologically

We have examined the process of fusion of the intertransverse processes and bone graft in the rabbit by in situ hybridisation and evaluated the spatial and temporal expression of genes encoding pro-α1 (I) collagen (COL1A1), pro-α1 (II) collagen (COL2A1) and pro-α1 (X) collagen (COL10A1).

Beginning at two weeks after operation, osteogenesis and chondrogenesis occurred around the transverse process and the grafted bone at the central portion of the area of the fusion mass. Osteoblasts and osteocytes at the newly-formed woven bone expressed COL1A1. At the cartilage, most chondrocytes expressed COL2A1 and some hypertrophic chondrocytes COL10A1. In some regions, co-expression of COL1A1 and COL2A1 was observed. At four weeks, such expressions for COL1A1, COL2A1 and COL10A1 became prominent at the area of the fusion mass. From four to six weeks, bone remodelling progressed from the area of the transverse processes towards the central zone. Osteoblasts lining the trabeculae expressed a strong signal for COL1A1. At the central portion of the area of the fusion mass, endochondral ossification progressed and chondrocytes expressed COL2A1 and COL10A1.

Our findings show that the fusion process begins with the synthesis of collagens around the transverse processes and around the grafted bone independently. Various spatial and temporal osteogenic and chondrogenic responses, including intramembranous, endochondral and transchondroid bone formation, progress after bone grafting at the intertransverse processes. Bone formation through cartilage may play an important role in posterolateral spinal fusion.

In a study on ten fresh human cadavers we examined the change in the height of the intervertebral disc space, the angle of lordosis and the geometry of the facet joints after insertion of intervertebral total disc replacements. SB III Charité prostheses were inserted at L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1. The changes studied were measured using computer navigation sofware applied to CT scans before and after instrumentation.

After disc replacement the mean lumbar disc height was doubled (p < 0.001). The mean angle of lordosis and the facet joint space increased by a statistically significant extent (p < 0.005 and p = 0.006, respectively). By contrast, the mean facet joint overlap was significantly reduced (p < 0.001). Our study indicates that the increase in the intervertebral disc height after disc replacement changes the geometry at the facet joints. This may have clinical relevance.