Comparing Transperitoneal Retroperitoneal Access and Percutaneous Puncture for Lumbar Disc Degeneration Modeling in Rabbits

This study compares the efficacy of two methods for inducing intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) in rabbits: percutaneous and trans-retroperitoneal puncture of the annulus fibrosus. Fifteen healthy male New Zealand White rabbits were randomly assigned to three groups: sham, percutaneous puncture, and trans-retroperitoneal puncture. A comprehensive assessment, including mortality rates, morphological and histological evaluations, radiological imaging, and biomarker analysis, was conducted to ensure an accurate and detailed comparison between the two methods. The results demonstrate that both puncture techniques successfully induced IVDD in the rabbit model. However, the trans-retroperitoneal approach resulted in more pronounced degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs while maintaining a significantly lower mortality rate compared to the percutaneous method. These findings highlight the advantages of the trans-retroperitoneal approach in IVDD modeling. This study provides valuable insights into the establishment of IVDD models and lays a foundation for future investigations into effective treatment strategies for low back pain, ultimately improving patient outcomes.