An ovine model of spinal cord injury

Abstract

The ovine model is workable as a large animal surrogate suitable for translational studies of novel SCS therapies aimed at relieving spasticity in patients with SCI.

Spinal Cord Stimulation for Spasticity: Historical Approaches, Current Status, and Future Directions

“…In parallel with that work, we have recently validated an ovine model of SCI optimized for testing the efficacy of SCS on the resulting states of mild spasticity . It employs adult female sheep that undergo laminectomy and durotomy, and subsequent weight‐drop contusion injury of the spinal cord, along with implantation of electromyography electrodes and a spinal cord stimulator.…”

Durotomy Surrogate and Seals for Intradural Spinal Cord Stimulators: Apparatus and Review of Clinical Methods and Materials

“…Several different in vivo investigations of dura mater traversal have been done in small animals, for instance the implantation of dural windows in canines (94), felines (95), and rodents (96). However, a large animal model is needed for suitable electrophysiological and functional testing of intradural spinal cord stimulators, and ovine models in particular have proven useful in that regard (7,18). Within the context of the present work, www.neuromodulationjournal.com establishing permanent dural seal following implantation of such a device is also of primary importance, and the ovine model has significant anatomical and behavioral advantages for that purpose (6,97,98).…”

“…We have recently reviewed its anatomical and biophysical properties , with special attention focused on the biomechanical characteristics most relevant to medical device development. As part of the process of establishing the safety and efficacy of new medical devices that interact with the dura, complex, and costly in vivo studies employing large‐animal models are typically required . Prior to that, however, preliminary investigations with suitable in vitro and/or bench top models can produce very valuable early‐stage data useful for device design at a small fraction of the cost of in vivo studies .…”

A comparison of two-dimensional and three-dimensional techniques for determining the kinematic patterns for hindlimb obstacle clearance during sheep locomotion.

“…Animal studies using the sheep as kinematic model are scarce in the literature and only in the eld of orthopaedics and spinal cord injury research [10][11][12][13]. Recently, our lab used a two-dimensional (2D) model to analyse the hindlimb kinematics in clinically healthy sheep during overground and obstacle clearance during locomotion [14].…”