Generating Rabbit Model of Bone Infection: A Technique of Inducing Chronic Infection by Injecting Bacteria Directly in Bone Marrow

To generate a bacterial bone infection model, begin by placing an anesthetized rabbit in a lateral position. Remove the fur from the hindlimb to locate tibia - the bone connecting the knee to the ankle. Mark a point adjacent to the tibial plateau - the proximal end of tibia bone.

Incise the skin and periosteum - a tissue layer around the bone - exposing the tibia. Using the marked reference, make a cavity in the bone marrow. Insert a bone wax plug into the cavity. Suture the periosteum and the skin layers.

Next, take a syringe containing Staphylococcus aureus solution. Pierce the needle through the bone wax plug and inoculate the bacterial solution into the bone marrow. Eject the needle. Transfer the rabbit to a cage and monitor the spread of infection.

The bone wax plug prevents the leakage of the bacterial suspension, allowing the bacteria to proliferate in the bone marrow. These bacteria attract the leucocytes and inflammatory factors leading to osteomyelitis - an inflammation in the bone causing reduced blood supply.

These conditions eventually lead to the sequestrum formation - a necrotic area in the bone devoid of blood supply. Bacteria further infiltrate this area to escape the antibiotic treatment, resulting in a chronic infection.