Purpose: 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.
Methods: 72 rabbit spinal segments (disc/endplates + 1/3 of adjacent vertebrae) were harvested from T8/9 to L5/6 and assigned to control (n = 36) or trauma groups (n = 36). Burst fractures were induced at day 0 in the trauma group using a dropped-weight device. From day 1 to 28, all specimens were cultured at 37 °C and were dynamically loaded daily (~1 MPa nominal pressure, 1 Hz, 2,500 cycles). At day 1, 7, 14, and 28, 9 specimens from each group were taken for analysis: histology (n = 2), total disc glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content (n = 3) normalized to DNA, and qPCR of DD marker genes (n = 4) in the nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosus.
Results: Burst fracture with post-traumatic physiological loading resulted in a 65 % loss of GAG/DNA by day 28. Histological sections confirmed the remodeling of the matrix. Catabolic (MMP-1/-3), pro-apoptotic (TNF-α, fas ligand), and pro-inflammatory (IL-1/-6, iNOS) gene transcription was substantially up-regulated in the nucleus after the trauma and did not normalize to control within 28 days. Similar results were found for the annulus on lower levels.
Conclusion: 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.