The Effects of Internal Fixation on the Articular Cartilage of Unfused Canine Facet Joint Cartilage

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Abstract
Custom-made distraction instrumentation was placed in the lumbar spine of 8 large dogs with care taken to preserve the integrity of 2 intervening apophyseal joints. Histologic staining of immobilized joint cartilage showed varying degrees of chondrolysis, cloning, invasion of the tide mark and loss of proteoglycans as early as 2 mo. postoperatively. Every specimen had significant degenerative changes characteristic of osteoarthritis. The joints 1 segment caudal to the lower hooks also were examined and had similar histologic evidence of degeneration. Three dogs had the instrumentation removed and were then sacrificed 1.5-3 mo. later. The degenerative changes were not reversible following instrumentation removal.

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