Spine
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A bovine model was used to evaluate the effects of thoracic vertebral screw impingement of the aorta. ⋯ Major impingement of vertebral screws on the aorta caused acute and chronic histopathologic and biomechanical changes in the vessel wall. This model represents a severe form of vessel penetration by a screw that confirms such a "worst case" scenario results in marked compromise of the vessel wall integrity. The sequelae of less severe impingement are unknown.
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An electrophysiologic analysis was performed on a chronic lumbar spinal stenosis model of rats. The effects of venous stasis on ectopic firing originating in the nerve root were investigated. ⋯ We demonstrated that ectopic firing was elicited by venous stasis only in the LSCS animals. Therefore, the venous stasis may be a major factor of neurogenic intermittent claudication.