Title features of the modeling of the stump in animals for the installation of osteointegrated implants

Introduction. The formation of a stump, followed by implantation of osteointegrated implants, is a serious problem. During preclinical tests, various animal models are used. We studied the features of the modeling of the stump and postoperative conducting on rabbits.

The aim of the study is to determine the features of modeling the stults of experimental animals and postoperative management for the subsequent installation of osteointegrated implants.

Materials and methods. The study included 14 rabbits of the Soviet chinchilla breed. Transtibial amputation of the hind limb was performed with the formation of the anterior and predominant size of the posterior fasciocutaneous and muscle flaps; osteotomy was performed with an oscillating saw with saline cooling. The self-tapping sleeve was inserted into the medullary canal by screw movements to the level of the saw; the wound was closed in layers without drainage. We have developed and applied an individual 3D-modeled immobilizing sleeve mounted on top of an aseptic bandage.

Results. A detailed protocol of operation and the stages of postoperative conducting animals for the subsequent installation of osteointegrated implants have been developed. A new immobilizing rear limb of the sleeve rabbit using 3D modeling and additive technologies is proposed. The advantages and disadvantages of the proposed methodology were identified.

Conclusion. A new approach to modeling of skin-muscle flaps allows minimizing tissue injuries in the postoperative period and reducing the frequency of necrosis. The manufacture of an immobilizing sleeve protects the stump from mechanical damage. The experience of forming a stump, the manufacture of implants and immobilizing devices, as well as postoperative management, can be used in preclinical studies to test new materials and structures, as well as for experiments on a large animal model.

1. Paterno` L., Ibrahimi M., Gruppioni E., Menciassi A., Ricotti L., Sockets for Limb Prostheses: A Review of Existing Technologies and Open Challenges. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2018 Sep; 65(9): 1996-2010. https://doi.org/10.1109/TBME.2017.2775100

2. Marino M., Pattni Sh., Greenberg M., Miller A., Hocker E., Ritter S., Access to prosthetic devices in developing countries: Pathways and challenges, 2015 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC), Seattle, WA, USA, 2015; 45-51. https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC.2015.7343953

3. Li Y., He L., Lu X., Du Q., Yu Sh., Huang X., Clinical Characteristics, Quality of Life, and Risk Factors of Amputation Stump Skin Disease and Stump Fungal Infection in Adult Amputees in Shanghai, China. Front Microbiol. 2022 Apr 25; 13: 868431. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.868431

4. Hagberg K., Brånemark R., Consequences of non-vascular trans-femoral amputation: A survey of quality of life, prosthetic use and problems. Prosthetics and orthotics international. 2001; 25 (3): 186-194. https://doi.org/10.1080/03093640108726601

5. Brånemark PI, Adell R, Breine U, Hansson BO, Lindström J, Ohlsson A. Intra-osseous anchorage of dental prostheses. I. Experimental studies. Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg. 1969; 3(2): 81-100. https://doi.org/10.3109/02844316909036699

6. Li Y., Brånemark R., Osseointegrated prostheses for rehabilitation following amputation: The pioneering Swedish model. Unfallchirurg. 2017Apr; 120(4): 285-292. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00113-017-0331-4

7. Sinegub A.V., Kovalenko D.A., Chupryaev V.A., Nikolaenko A.N., Borisov A.P., Complications of Osseointegrated Prostheses and Comparison of Quality of Life in Patients with Different Prosthetic Systems: A Review. Traumatology and Orthopedics of Russia. 2025; 31(2): 178-189. https://doi.org/10.17816/2311-2905-17663

8. Scarano A., Khater A.G.A., Gehrke S.A., Inchingolo F., Tari S.R., Animal Models for Investigating Osseointegration: An Overview of Implant Research over the Last Three Decades. J. Funct. Biomater. 2024 Mar 27; 15(4): 83. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb15040083

9. Rivet C., Elliott J.T., Gunn J.R., Sottosanti J.S., Fearing B.V., Hsu J.R., Gitajn I.L., Rabbit model of a biofilm-contaminated, percutaneous orthopaedic endoprosthesis. OTA Int. 2025 Mar 7; 8 (1 Suppl): e384. https://doi.org/10.1097/OI9.0000000000000384

10. Mendonça A.G..C, Braga V.A.A., Fernandes T.H.T., Oliveira G.C.R., Beraldo G.S., Fixed bilateral endo-exo prostheses in feline femur - case report. Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinaria e Zootecnia. 2023; 5(1): 107-112. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4162-12661

11. Northrup N.C., Barron G.H., Aldridge C.F., Powers L.V., Greenacre C.B., Hutcheson J.D., Morrisey JK., Outcome for client-owned domestic rabbits undergoing limb amputation: 34 cases (2000-2009). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2014 Apr 15; 244(8): 950-5. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.244.8.950. PMID: 24697772

12. Sun Y., Xu J., Lv S., Xu Z., Li L., Li Y., Li Y., Extramedullary Osseointegration-A Novel Design of Percutaneous Osseointegration Prosthesis for Amputees. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2022 Feb 10; 10: 811128. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2022.811128

13. Crouch D.L., Hall P.T., Stubbs C., Billings C., Pedersen A.P., Burton B., Greenacre C.B., Stephenson S.M., Anderson D.E., Feasibility of Implanting a Foot-Ankle Endoprosthesis within Skin in a Rabbit Model of Transtibial Amputation. Bioengineering (Basel). 2022 Jul 27; 9(8): 348. https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9080348

14. Min L., Jiang W., Li Z., Li X., Wei J, Diao J., Bai T., Yan F., Establishment of an animal model to study the effects of amputation on the cardiovascular system. Sheng Wu Yi Xue Gong Cheng Xue Za Zhi. 2022 Oct 25; 39(5): 991-996. Chinese. https://doi.org/10.7507/1001-5515.202203064

15. Kim P.S., Ko J., O'Shaughnessy K.K., Kuiken T.A., Dumanian G.A., Novel model for end-neuroma formation in the amputated rabbit forelimb. J Brachial Plex Peripher Nerve Inj. 2010 Mar 18; 5: 6 https://doi.org/10.1186/1749-7221-5-6

16. Frogameni A.D., Booth R., Mumaw L.A., Cummings V., Comparison of soft dressing and rigid dressing in the healing of amputated limbs of rabbits. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 1989 Oct; 68(5): 234-9. https://doi.org/10.1097/00002060-198910000-00007

17. Fearing B.V., Romereim S.M., Danelson K., Smykowski M., Barankevich M., Serbin R., Chintalapudi N., Davis J., Appt S., Burkart H., Seymour R.B., Hsu J.R., Development of a small animal bone-anchored limb replacement model for infection interventions. OTA Int. 2025 Mar 7; 8(1 Suppl): e366. https://doi.org/10.1097/OI9.0000000000000366

18. Hall P.T., Bratcher S.Z., Stubbs C., Rifkin R.E., Grzeskowiak R.M., Burton B.J., Greenacre C.B., Stephenson S.M., Anderson D.E., Crouch D.L., Fully Implanted Prostheses for Musculoskeletal Limb Reconstruction After Amputation: An In Vivo Feasibility Study. Ann Biomed Eng. 2021 Mar; 49(3): 1012-1021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-020-02645-3

19. Dingle A.M., Ness J.P., Novello J., Millevolte A.X.T., Zeng W., Sanchez R., Nemke B., Lu Y., Suminski A.J., Markel M.D., Williams J.C., Poore S.O., Experimental Basis for Creating an Osseointegrated Neural Interface for Prosthetic Control: A Pilot Study in Rabbits. Mil Med. 2020 Jan 7; 185(Suppl 1): 462-469. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usz246

20. Gorbach Е.N., Yemanov А.А., Ovchinnikov Е, Kuznetsov V.P, Fefelov А.S., Gorgots V.G., Borzunov D.Y., Gubin A.V., Osseointegration of innovative customized implants in the tubular bone (experimental study). Sovremennye tehnologii v medicine. 2017; 9(1): 78–84. https://doi.org/10.17691/stm2017.9.1.09