Mechanical instability of the lumbar spine following intervertebral disc injury: a comparison of two injury methods.

ABSTRACT: Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a potential contributor to low-back pain. While experimental IVD injury models have demonstrated IVD structural changes, the early mechanical consequences remain unclear. This study aims to assess and compare the effects of two IVD injury models on lumbar spine instability and assess back musculature adaptations to IVD injury. Thirty-one adult male Wistar rats were assigned to three groups: IVD knife stab lesion (knife), IVD needle puncture (needle), and sham surgery control (control). In the knife and needle groups, L4/L5 IVDs were injured at 14 weeks of age. One to two weeks post-intervention, lumbar multifidus (MF) and medial longissimus (ML) muscles were excised, L4-L5 spinal segments were harvested for mechanical testing, and IVDs were collect

SUBMITTER: Xiao F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12576908 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature