TY - JOUR
T1 - Local bone metabolism during the consolidation process of spinal interbody fusion
AU - Loenen, Arjan C Y
AU - Peters, Marloes J M
AU - Wierts, Roel
AU - Bevers, Raymond T J
AU - van Rhijn, Lodewijk W
AU - Arts, Jacobus J
AU - Willems, Paul C
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors are grateful to the Medanex Clinic team and all personnel of the Maastricht University animal facility for their help and expertise in performing animal studies. The authors would also like to thank the personnel of the department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine for performing scanning procedures. Additionally, the authors would like to acknowledge Natasja van Dijk (Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen) for performing the histology.
Funding Information:
The research for this paper was financially supported by the Prosperos project, funded by the Interreg VA Flanders—the Netherlands program, CCI grant no. 2014TC16RFCB046.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Japanese Society Bone and Mineral Research.
PY - 2022/3
Y1 - 2022/3
N2 - INTRODUCTION: Although computed tomography (CT) can identify the presence of eventual bony bridges following lumbar interbody fusion (LIF) surgery, it does not provide information on the ongoing formation process of new bony structures. 18F sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) positron emission tomography (PET) could be used as complementary modality to add information on the bone metabolism at the fusion site. However, it remains unknown how bone metabolism in the operated segment changes early after surgery in uncompromised situations. This study aimed to quantify the changes in local bone metabolism during consolidation of LIF.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six skeletally mature sheep underwent LIF surgery. 18F-NaF PET/CT scanning was performed 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively to quantify the bone volume and metabolism in the operated segment. Bone metabolism was expressed as a function of bone volume.RESULTS: Early in the fusion process, bone metabolism was increased at the endplates of the operated vertebrae. In a next phase, bone metabolism increased in the center of the interbody region, peaked, and declined to an equilibrium state. During the entire postoperative time period of 12 weeks, bone metabolism in the interbody region was higher than that of a reference site in the spinal column.CONCLUSION: Following LIF surgery, there is a rapid increase in bone metabolism at the vertebral endplates that develops towards the center of the interbody region. Knowing the local bone metabolism during uncompromised consolidation of spinal interbody fusion might enable identification of impaired bone formation early after LIF surgery using 18F-NaF PET/CT scanning.
AB - INTRODUCTION: Although computed tomography (CT) can identify the presence of eventual bony bridges following lumbar interbody fusion (LIF) surgery, it does not provide information on the ongoing formation process of new bony structures. 18F sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) positron emission tomography (PET) could be used as complementary modality to add information on the bone metabolism at the fusion site. However, it remains unknown how bone metabolism in the operated segment changes early after surgery in uncompromised situations. This study aimed to quantify the changes in local bone metabolism during consolidation of LIF.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six skeletally mature sheep underwent LIF surgery. 18F-NaF PET/CT scanning was performed 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively to quantify the bone volume and metabolism in the operated segment. Bone metabolism was expressed as a function of bone volume.RESULTS: Early in the fusion process, bone metabolism was increased at the endplates of the operated vertebrae. In a next phase, bone metabolism increased in the center of the interbody region, peaked, and declined to an equilibrium state. During the entire postoperative time period of 12 weeks, bone metabolism in the interbody region was higher than that of a reference site in the spinal column.CONCLUSION: Following LIF surgery, there is a rapid increase in bone metabolism at the vertebral endplates that develops towards the center of the interbody region. Knowing the local bone metabolism during uncompromised consolidation of spinal interbody fusion might enable identification of impaired bone formation early after LIF surgery using 18F-NaF PET/CT scanning.
KW - Animals
KW - Lumbar Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging
KW - Osteogenesis
KW - Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
KW - Sheep
KW - Spinal Fusion
KW - Tomography, X-Ray Computed
KW - Computed tomography
KW - Lumbar interbody fusion
KW - F sodium fluoride positron emission tomography
KW - Ovine
KW - Bone metabolism
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85118636565&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00774-021-01281-8
DO - 10.1007/s00774-021-01281-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 34755216
SN - 0914-8779
VL - 40
SP - 220
EP - 228
JO - Journal of Bone and Mineral Metabolism
JF - Journal of Bone and Mineral Metabolism
IS - 2
ER -