Clinical Application of MRI in an Animal Bone Graft Model

We aim to monitor vascularization of early bone perfusion following rabbit lumbar intertransverse bone graft fusion surgery using magnetic resonance imaging assessment. Correlation with graft survival status was evaluated by histological method. Experimental animals were randomly divided into three groups and the model was established by operating bilateral lumbar intertransverse bone graft with different types of bone graft substitute material. The lumbar intertransverse area of three groups of rabbits was scanned via MRI. In addition, histological examinations were performed at the 6 th week after surgery and the quantitative analysis of the osteogenesis in different grafted area was carried out by an image analysis system. The MRI technique can be used for early postoperative evaluation of vascularized bone graft perfusion after transplantation of different bone materials, whereas histological examination allows direct visualization of the osteogenesis process.