A pediatric animal model to evaluate the effects of disuse on musculoskeletal growth and development.

ABSTRACT: Prolonged immobilization in hospitalized children can lead to fragility fractures and muscle contractures and atrophy. The purpose of this study was to develop a lower-extremity disuse rabbit model with musculoskeletal changes similar to those observed in children subjected to prolonged immobilization. Six-week-old rabbits were randomly assigned to control (CTRL, n=4) or bilateral sciatic and femoral neurectomy (bSFN, n=4) groups. Trans-axial helical CT scans of each rabbit׳s hind limbs were acquired after eight weeks. The rabbits were then euthanized and the tibiae and calcanea were harvested from each rabbit. μCT imaging was performed on the tibiae and calcanea mid-diaphysis. Four-point bending, gas pycnometry, and ashing were then performed on each tibia. All comparisons reflect the dif

SUBMITTER: Miranda DL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5074880 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature