Effects of spinal cord injury on the bone and bone callus microarchitecture and mechanical resistance in paraplegic rats. is the passive standing an effective tool to improve the quality of bone healing?

• Grant number: 16/04621-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2016
• End date: September 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Ariane Zamarioli
• Grantee: Kelly Astolpho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The incidence of spinal cord injury (SCI) has grown significantly worldwide as a result from urbanization, increases of automobile accidents and violence. The SCI is yet an irreversible condition, which impairs the general life quality of injured people. Several organs and tissues are affected due to this injury, including bone tissue. Objective: To investigate the influence of SCI on bone healing and the effect of passive standing on the bone repair of paraplegic rats. Materials and Methods: 45 rats will be randomly distributed into 3 groups: (1) SHAM+FRACT: normal rats submitted to bone fracture; (2) SCI+FRACT: SCI rats with bone fracture and; (3) SCI+FRACT+PS: SCI rats with bone fracture and treated with passive standing. In the SCI groups animals will be submitted to surgical procedure for complete section of the spinal cord in bone level T10. In the sham group the spinal cord will only be exposed, but not sectioned. 21 days after the spine surgery (SCI or SHAM), bone fracture will be held in the diaphysis of the right femur by closed method. Afterwards bone fragments will be fixed by g intramedullary fixation. Bone healing will be followed by 14 days. Three days after bone surgery the animals of PS group will be submitted to passive standing 5x/week,for20 minutes. At the end of experiment the following analysis will be performed: macroscopic; densitometric (DXA); mechanical; histological and uCT. The results will allow the assessment of passive standing on the bone healing in paraplegic rats.