• Gianluca Vadalà, Francesca De Strobel, Marco Bernardini, Luca Denaro, Domenico D'Avella, and Vincenzo Denaro.
• Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro Del Portillo 200, 00128, Rome, Italy, g.vadala@unicampus.it.
• Eur Spine J. 2013 Nov 1;22 Suppl 6:S972-8.

PurposeTo characterize in vivo the transpedicular approach (TA) as an alternative route to study intervertebral disc (IVD) regeneration strategies in a sheep model.Methods48 IVD of 12 sheep were used. TA was performed under fluoroscopy, followed by nucleotomy (2-mm shaver resector). A polyurethane scaffold was used to repair the end-plate. X-ray and MRI images were acquired pre-, intra- and post-operatively (1, 3, 6 months). Complications were recorded.ResultsTA was feasible in all animals; nucleus pulposus (NP) from L1 to L5 was accessible. Nucleotomy followed by end-plate repair was achieved. Loss of NP signal intensity was shown in MRI images of the nucleotomy group.ConclusionsTA is feasible in vivo, repeatable after only a short learning period and safely performed without significant morbidity. This animal model allows the study of IVD degeneration physiopathology and investigation of IVD regeneration techniques in vivo.

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