부산대학교 도서관

Objective: Animal models provide a deeper understanding about various complications and better demonstratethe effect of therapeutic approaches. One of the issues in the low back pain (LBP) model is the invasiveness ofthe procedure and it does not mimic actual disease conditions in humans. The purpose of the present study wasto compare the ultrasound-guided (US-guided) percutaneous approach with the open-surgery method in the tumornecrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-induced disc degeneration model for the first time to showcase the advantages of thisrecently developed, minimally invasive method.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, eight male rabbits were divided into two groups (open-surgery andUS-guided). Relevant discs were punctured by two approaches and TNF-α was injected into them. Magnetic resonanceimaging (MRI) was performed to assess the disc height index (DHI) at all stages. Also morphological changes (annulusfibrosus, nucleus pulposus) were evaluated by assessing Pfirrmann grade and histological evaluation (Hematoxylin &Eosin).Results: The findings indicated targeted discs became degenerated after six weeks. DHI in both groups was significantlyreduced (P