Technical Notes for Establishing a Cervical Fusion Model in Goats Based on Distinctive Anatomy

Goat is an adequate experimental model for cervical spine testing. However, studies on the anatomy of the cervical spine in goats are limited, and there is no uniform standard for establishing a single-segment anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) model in goats. To address this issue, we investigated the cervical spine anatomy of goats and provided a technical basis for establishing a single-segment ACDF model in goats. We measured the imaging anatomical parameters using Mimics Medical 20.0 software. We then performed histological analysis of the cervical spine segment 2–3 (C2–3) segment of six goat cervical spine specimens. Based on the measurements and histological analysis, the fusion cage was designed to be wedge-shaped, the length of the plate was 25 mm, and the length of the screw was 15 mm. Based on the anatomical characteristics of goats, we believed that the C2–3 segment of goats was most suitable for a single-segment ACDF model in goats, and the decompression should be performed medial to the pterygoid joint on both sides, the thickness of the removed endplate was ∼0.6 mm, the cage implanted in the anterior two-thirds of the intervertebral space could maximize the contact area of the cage-endplate interface, and the location of the midline spur could position the implantation of the internal fixtures. Radiological examination at 12 weeks postoperatively suggested that the internal fixtures were in place and new bone formation was visible. These results demonstrated that these technical notes based on anatomical features were practical and could minimize damage to animals. The anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) model in goats can facilitate research related to cervical degenerative diseases. To date, there is no uniform standard for establishing an ACDF model in goats. Here, we measured the anatomical parameters of the cervical spine in goats and proposed technical notes for establishing an ACDF model in goats. This study demonstrated that these technical notes based on anatomical features are practical and can minimize the damage to the animals. It can provide an important reference for future related studies.