Pedicle screws have been the standard method of treatment of spinal diseases.
However, these screws can loosen over time after placement during surgery, which makes them a less-than-ideal choice.
But how can surgeons improve on this practice? The answer may lie within porcine tissues and organs. More specifically, within pig lumbar spines.
Pig lumbar spines have been used to determine a better type of treatment for lumbar spine repair due to their anatomical size, mechanical characteristics and cost. By mimicking the human spine, pig lumbar spines provide an important tool for human spine repair research.
New research published in the journal Jove earlier this year took a detailed look at an evaluation method for transpedicular screws using in vitro porcine lumbar spines.
The researchers, from a group of hospitals in South Korea, concluded that “a porcine model of pedicle screw fixation provides a key clinical platform to investigate efficient fixation techniques that cause fewer complications in patients with osteoporosis.”
This study is just one more example of how a porcine model can help the medical world better treat human patients.
In the past, we’ve reported on the use of pigs in everything from treating pancreatic cancer to improving wound healing. And Animal Biotech is proud to take part in this kind of work, providing researchers porcine tissues and organs. Contact us today to learn how we can help you in your next study.
