European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
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Spinal instability of the lumbar spine causes various clinical symptoms. Among them, spinal instability is thought to contribute to low back pain, but the pathophysiological mechanisms are controversial. Although experimental animal models of spinal instability have been reported, it is unknown whether these models produce pain and whether spinal instability affects walking ability. We used the CatWalk system to investigate whether lumbar facetectomy causes gait abnormalities and low back pain. ⋯ These results suggest that spinal instability and/or intervertebral disc degeneration induce gait abnormalities and low back pain. This experimental model may be useful for elucidating the mechanisms underlying clinical symptoms, such as low back pain, in patients with spinal instability.
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Post-traumatic disc degeneration (DD) is currently investigated with models not fully matching the clinical condition, in particular post-traumatic loading of the disc is not considered. Therefore, the aim was to establish an in vitro burst fracture model that more closely mimics the in vivo situation by including post-traumatic physiological loading and to investigate DD under these conditions. ⋯ An in vitro burst fracture model with physiological post-traumatic loading was established. Under these conditions, burst spinal segments undergo strong and persistent degenerative changes.