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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Journal of Clinical Medicine

Anatomical and Technical Limitations of a Rabbit Median Sternotomy Model for Translational Mediastinal Adhesion Research

  • Doğuş Hemşinli1
  • Sedat Ozan Karakişi1
  • Atilla Topçu2
  • Oğuzhan Okcu3
  • İbrahim Yel1
  • Fatih Eren4,5,6
6 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize 53100, Türkiye
  2. 2Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize 53100, Türkiye
  3. 3Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize 53100, Türkiye
  4. 4Faculty of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize 53100, Türkiye
  5. 5Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Marmara University, Istanbul 34854, Türkiye
  6. 6Institute of Gastroenterology, Liver Research Unit, Marmara University, Istanbul 34854, Türkiye
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Abstract

Background/Objectives: Experimental animal models are fundamental to developing and translating strategies for preventing postoperative mediastinal adhesions. Rabbits are widely used in adhesion research; however, the anatomical and technical suitability of the rabbit median sternotomy model for reproducing conditions relevant to human redo sternotomy remains incompletely characterized. This study aimed to characterize the rabbit sternum and assess the feasibility and translational suitability of the rabbit median sternotomy model for mediastinal adhesion research. Methods: An acute, non-survival observational feasibility study was performed in two adult female New Zealand White rabbits. Median sternotomy was performed using 22 cm surgical scissors with ball-tipped blades, following a previously described technique with a technical modification. Macroscopic assessments included sternal morphology, the technical feasibility of midline division, pleural and peritoneal integrity, the apparent adequacy of the remaining sternal bone for re-approximation, and the relationships between the sternum and underlying mediastinal structures. Sternal closure was not attempted. Results: The rabbit sternum exhibited a narrow, highly segmented, and flexible configuration, with an elongated xiphoid process extending beyond the thoracic cavity. Median sternotomy proved technically challenging because of the limited width of the sternum. During the procedure, the surgical scissors deviated laterally, resulting in fragmentation of the sternal segments. Under the surgical conditions evaluated in this study, macroscopic assessment indicated that the remaining sternal bone was insufficient to permit stable re-approximation comparable to that required in humans; therefore, no closure attempt was made. Conclusions: These characteristics limited reproduction of the retrosternal conditions encountered during human median sternotomy. In this two-animal feasibility assessment, the rabbit median sternotomy model demonstrated anatomical and technical limitations that may reduce its translational fidelity for studies specifically intended to reproduce the retrosternal conditions of human redo sternotomy.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{hemsinli2026anatomical,
  title = {{Anatomical and Technical Limitations of a Rabbit Median Sternotomy Model for Translational Mediastinal Adhesion Research}},
  author = {Doğuş Hemşinli and Sedat Ozan Karakişi and Atilla Topçu and Oğuzhan Okcu and İbrahim Yel and Fatih Eren},
  journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
  year = {2026},
  month = nov,
  doi = {10.3390/jcm15218616},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8616},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Anatomical and Technical Limitations of a Rabbit Median Sternotomy Model for Translational Mediastinal Adhesion Research
AU  - Doğuş Hemşinli
AU  - Sedat Ozan Karakişi
AU  - Atilla Topçu
AU  - Oğuzhan Okcu
AU  - İbrahim Yel
AU  - Fatih Eren
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/11/05
JO  - Journal of Clinical Medicine
DO  - 10.3390/jcm15218616
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8616
AB  - Background/Objectives: Experimental animal models are fundamental to developing and translating strategies for preventing postoperative mediastinal adhesions. Rabbits are widely used in adhesion research; however, the anatomical and technical suitability of the rabbit median sternotomy model for reproducing conditions relevant to human redo sternotomy remains incompletely characterized. This study aimed to characterize the rabbit sternum and assess the feasibility and translational suitability of the rabbit median sternotomy model for mediastinal adhesion research. Methods: An acute, non-survival observational feasibility study was performed in two adult female New Zealand White rabbits. Median sternotomy was performed using 22 cm surgical scissors with ball-tipped blades, following a previously described technique with a technical modification. Macroscopic assessments included sternal morphology, the technical feasibility of midline division, pleural and peritoneal integrity, the apparent adequacy of the remaining sternal bone for re-approximation, and the relationships between the sternum and underlying mediastinal structures. Sternal closure was not attempted. Results: The rabbit sternum exhibited a narrow, highly segmented, and flexible configuration, with an elongated xiphoid process extending beyond the thoracic cavity. Median sternotomy proved technically challenging because of the limited width of the sternum. During the procedure, the surgical scissors deviated laterally, resulting in fragmentation of the sternal segments. Under the surgical conditions evaluated in this study, macroscopic assessment indicated that the remaining sternal bone was insufficient to permit stable re-approximation comparable to that required in humans; therefore, no closure attempt was made. Conclusions: These characteristics limited reproduction of the retrosternal conditions encountered during human median sternotomy. In this two-animal feasibility assessment, the rabbit median sternotomy model demonstrated anatomical and technical limitations that may reduce its translational fidelity for studies specifically intended to reproduce the retrosternal conditions of human redo sternotomy.
SN  - 2077-0383
ER  -