Feasibility of low-field magnetic resonance imaging (lf-MRI) for longitudinally evaluating experimentally induced lumbar intervertebral disc injuries in goat models (Capra hircus): A pilot study.

ABSTRACT: Intervertebral disc injury and degeneration are among the most common causes of lower back pain and debilitation in humans. This prospective, descriptive, pilot study was designed to support our team's long-term research goals of measuring effects of novel therapies for lumbar disc injury and degeneration using small ruminant translational research models. Our overall aim was to determine whether low-field magnetic resonance imaging (lf-MRI) would be a feasible technique for longitudinally assessing surgical microdiscectomy-induced lumbar disc injury and degeneration in goat models (Capra hircus). Four, female, skeletally mature, Nubian-breed goats were used. One goat was used to refine and standardize imaging and surgical protocols and the remaining three were scanned one week before and

SUBMITTER: Jones JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12912563 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature