Issue release date: 13.09.2024
2University of Health Sciences, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital, Department of Orthopaedics Surgery and Traumatology, Istanbul, Türkiye DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.44636-23.2 AIM: To evaluate the effects of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) on spinal fusion through manual palpation, radiological examinations, and histopathological analyses in a rat model.
MATERIAL and METHODS: A total of 21 rats were evaluated in this study. The rats were divided into the following three groups, each consisting of seven rats: preoperative G-CSF, postoperative G-CSF, and a control group. L4?L5 posterolateral fusion was performed in all three groups. The preoperative G-CSF group received 5 ?g/kg G-CSF subcutaneously for 5 days in the preoperative period, while the postoperative G-CSF group received the same intervention in the postoperative period. No additional postoperative procedures were performed in the control group. All rats were euthanized at 6 weeks, and the fusion site was evaluated using manual palpation, radiological examinations, and histopathological analyses.
RESULTS: According to the classification of subjects according to manual examination, preoperative and postoperative G-CSF groups had significantly higher rates of ?single prominent callus formation + fusion? (p<0.05). When direct radiography scores were evaluated, the number of subjects with ?unilateral solid new bone density ? contralateral nonsolid bone density? was significantly greater in the preoperative G-CSF group, while ?bilateral solid new bone densities? was more prevalent in the postoperative G-CSF group (p<0.05). In regards to histopathological scores, the number of subjects rated as ?fibrocartilage tissue is more than bone tissue? was higher in the preoperative G-CSF group, the number of subjects rated as?bone tissue is more than fibrocartilage tissue? was higher in the postoperative G-CSF group, and the number of subjects rated as ?fibrous tissue is more than fibrocartilage tissue? was greaterin the control group (p=0.01). Preoperative and postoperative G-CSF groups had significantly higher manual examination, radiological, and histopathological scores and greater volume of new bone formation on 3D CT compared to the control group (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION: The results of our study demonstrated that preoperative and postoperative administration of G-CSF had positive effects on spinal fusion in a rat model.
Keywords : Spinal fusion, Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), Rat model