Femoral Condyle Defect Model

Model Description

The rabbit femoral condyle defect model is a gold-standard preclinical tool for evaluating bone regeneration strategies and orthopedic implant performance. Leveraging rabbits' human-like skeletal remodeling capacity and large bone dimensions, this model enables:

• Critical-sized defect standardization: 5mm diameter × 10mm depth cylindrical defects
• Implant compatibility testing: Accommodates human-scale grafts (hydroxyapatite, PCL scaffolds)
• High reproducibility: 95% defect consistency via guided osteotomy

Key Advantages:
✓ Anatomical relevance: Trabecular bone density comparable to human femoral condyles
✓ Controlled healing phases: 6-12 week monitoring window
✓ Multi-modal validation: Micro-CT, biomechanics, and histopathology integration

Applications

• Bone graft material efficacy testing (ceramics, polymers, composites)
• 3D-printed scaffold osseointegration studies
• Growth factor delivery system evaluation (BMP-2, VEGF)
• Non-union defect mechanism research

Modeling Protocol —— Surgical Defect Creation

1. Preoperative Prep:

• Anesthetize rabbits (ketamine/xylazine 35/5 mg/kg)
• Shave and disinfect the lateral femoral condyle region

2. Defect Generation:

• Lateral parapatellar incision to expose the femoral condyle
• Create a 5mm diameter × 10mm depth cylindrical defect using a surgical osteotomy drill(500 RPM, saline irrigation)

3. Closure:

• Layer-by-layer suture (4-0 Vicryl)
• Post-op analgesia (meloxicam 0.2 mg/kg）

Data

1. Micro CT :

 Bone Mineral Density (BMD), Bone Volume Fraction (BV/TV), Trabecular Separation (Tb.Sp), Trabecular Number (Tb.N).