Loss of autoregulation and posttraumatic ischemia following experimental spinal cord trauma

1979 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard J. Senter ◽  
Joan L. Venes

✓ Blood flow in the dorsolateral funiculus of the cat thoracic spinal cord was studied after severe experimental cord injury, using a modification of the hydrogen clearance technique. Autoregulation was intact during the initial 60 to 90 minutes after cord injury, but was then lost coincident with the onset of ischemia. The data suggest that the ischemic response to spinal cord injury is mediated both by the loss of autoregulation and by relative vasoconstriction of the resistance vessels. Therapeutic intervention aimed at maintaining perfusion during the early posttraumatic period may prove of value in reversing or limiting some elements of dysfunction due to the secondary injury of ischemia.

1978 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 569-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard J. Senter ◽  
Joan L. Venes

✓ A modification of the hydrogen clearance technique was used to study blood flow in the dorsolateral funiculus of traumatized thoracic spinal cord in cats. The results of this study show that ischemia occurred in all animals both at the level of trauma, and 1 cm below the site of trauma. There was, however, a period of over 1 hour after trauma during which blood flow was maintained at both sites. This investigation not only confirms the presence of ischemia in the lateral funiculus of the injured spinal cord but suggests that a period of time exists in the posttraumatic period during which pharmacological intervention may alter the ischemic response and possibly prevent secondary injury resulting from the ischemia.


2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 308-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos E. Casas ◽  
Loren P. Herrera ◽  
Chad Prusmack ◽  
Gladys Ruenes ◽  
Alexander Marcillo ◽  
...  

Object. Regionally delivered hypothermia has advantages over systemic hypothermia for clinical application following spinal cord injury (SCI). The effects of local hypothermia on tissue sparing, neuronal preservation, and locomotor outcome were studied in a moderate thoracic spinal cord contusion model. Methods. Rats were randomized to four treatment groups and data were collected and analyzed in a blinded fashion. Chilled saline was perfused into the epidural space 30 minutes postcontusion to achieve the following epidural temperatures: 24 ± 2.3°C (16 rats), 30 ± 2.4°C (13 rats), and 35 ± 0.9°C (13 rats). Hypothermia was continued for 3 hours when a 45-minute period of rewarming was instituted. In a fourth group a moderate contusion only was induced in 14 animals. Rectal (core) and T9–10 (epidural) temperatures were measured continuously. Locomotor testing, using the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (Ba-Be-Br) scale, was performed for 6 weeks, and rats were videotaped for subsequent analysis. The lesion/preserved tissue ratio was calculated throughout the entire lesion cavity and the total lesion, spinal cord, and spared tissue volumes were determined. The rostral and caudal extent of gray matter loss was also measured. At 6 weeks locomotor recovery was similar in all groups (mean Ba-Be-Br Scale scores 14.88 ± 3.71, 14.83 ± 2.81, 14.50 ± 2.24, and 14.07 ± 2.39 [p = 0.77] for all four groups, respectively). No significant differences in spared tissue volumes were found when control and treatment groups were compared, but gray matter preservation was reduced in the infusion-treated groups. Conclusions. Regional cooling applied 30 minutes after a moderate contusive SCI was not beneficial in terms of tissue sparing, neuronal preservation, or locomotor outcome. This method of cooling may reduce blood flow in the injured spinal cord and exacerbate secondary injury.


1978 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 993-1001 ◽  
Author(s):  
George J. Dohrmann ◽  
Manohar M. Panjabi ◽  
Dennis Banks

✓ The biomechanics of the thoracic spinal cord and thorax in experimental trauma were studied in cats. Contusion of the T5–6 level of the feline spinal cord was accomplished by the weight-dropping technique; various combinations of weights and heights were used; and force, deformation/displacement, deformation velocity, and acceleration of deformation were measured. Greater force was associated with larger weights. Force was directly related to the displacement of the spinal cord and of the spinal cord/thorax. The presence of a “destruction point” on the force-displacement curve was suggested and its apparent significance discussed. Maximum deformation of the spinal cord was 1.1 mm, while the spinal cord/thorax was displaced a maximum of 4.6 mm. Deformation of the spinal cord ranged between 22% and 33% of the anteroposterior spinal cord diameter. Maximum deformation of the spinal cord was not associated necessarily with a maximum velocity of deformation; the range of velocity of spinal cord deformation was 0.12 to 0.18 m/sec. The relationship between velocity of deformation and force was a horizontal parabolic one. Greater force was required to obtain the same velocity of deformation of the spinal cord relative to that of the spinal cord/thorax unit. It was concluded that the mechanical alterations in the structures supporting the spinal cord account for a significant portion of the biomechanical measurements of the spinal cord previously reported in trauma. Since the force on the spinal cord and the thorax are the same, force may well be a most reasonable means of quantitating experimental spinal cord trauma.


1997 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando L. Vale ◽  
Jennifer Burns ◽  
Amie B. Jackson ◽  
Mark N. Hadley

✓ The optimal management of acute spinal cord injuries remains to be defined. The authors prospectively applied resuscitation principles of volume expansion and blood pressure maintenance to 77 patients who presented with acute neurological deficits as a result of spinal cord injuries occurring from C-1 through T-12 in an effort to maintain spinal cord blood flow and prevent secondary injury. According to the Intensive Care Unit protocol, all patients were managed by using Swan—Ganz and arterial blood pressure catheters and were treated with immobilization and fracture reduction as indicated. Intravenous fluids, colloid, and vasopressors were administered as necessary to maintain mean arterial blood pressure above 85 mm Hg. Surgery was performed for decompression and stabilization, and fusion in selected cases. Sixty-four patients have been followed at least 12 months postinjury by means of detailed neurological assessments and functional ability evaluations. Sixty percent of patients with complete cervical spinal cord injuries improved at least one Frankel or American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade at the last follow-up review. Thirty percent regained the ability to walk and 20% had return of bladder function 1 year postinjury. Thirty-three percent of the patients with complete thoracic spinal cord injuries improved at least one Frankel or ASIA grade. Approximately 10% of the patients regained the ability to walk and had return of bladder function. As of the 12-month follow-up review, 92% of patients demonstrated clinical improvement after sustaining incomplete cervical spinal cord injuries compared to their initial neurological status. Ninety-two percent regained the ability to walk and 88% regained bladder function. Eighty-eight percent of patients with incomplete thoracic spinal cord injuries demonstrated significant improvements in neurological function 1 year postinjury. Eighty-eight percent were able to walk and 63% had return of bladder function. The authors conclude that the enhanced neurological outcome that was observed in patients after spinal cord injury in this study was in addition to, and/or distinct from, any potential benefit provided by surgery. Early and aggressive medical management (volume resuscitation and blood pressure augmentation) of patients with acute spinal cord injuries optimizes the potential for neurological recovery after sustaining trauma.


Author(s):  
Fedorova Jana ◽  
Kellerova Erika ◽  
Bimbova Katarina ◽  
Pavel Jaroslav

AbstractSpontaneous recovery of lost motor functions is relative fast in rodent models after inducing a very mild/moderate spinal cord injury (SCI), and this may complicate a reliable evaluation of the effectiveness of potential therapy. Therefore, a severe graded (30 g, 40 g and 50 g) weight-compression SCI at the Th9 spinal segment, involving an acute mechanical impact followed by 15 min of persistent compression, was studied in adult female Wistar rats. Functional parameters, such as spontaneous recovery of motor hind limb and bladder emptying function, and the presence of hematuria were evaluated within 28 days of the post-traumatic period. The disruption of the blood-spinal cord barrier, measured by extravasated Evans Blue dye, was examined 24 h after the SCI, when maximum permeability occurs. At the end of the survival period, the degradation of gray and white matter associated with the formation of cystic cavities, and quantitative changes of glial structural proteins, such as GFAP, and integral components of axonal architecture, such as neurofilaments and myelin basic protein, were evaluated in the lesioned area of the spinal cord. Based on these functional and histological parameters, and taking the animal’s welfare into account, the 40 g weight can be considered as an upper limit for severe traumatic injury in this compression model.


Author(s):  
Hao Zhang ◽  
Alexander Younsi ◽  
Guoli Zheng ◽  
Mohamed Tail ◽  
Anna-Kathrin Harms ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose The Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) pathway has been associated with a protective role after injury to the central nervous system (CNS). We, therefore, investigated the effects of intrathecal Shh-administration in the subacute phase after thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI) on secondary injury processes in rats. Methods Twenty-one Wistar rats were subjected to thoracic clip-contusion/compression SCI at T9. Animals were randomized into three treatment groups (Shh, Vehicle, Sham). Seven days after SCI, osmotic pumps were implanted for seven-day continuous intrathecal administration of Shh. Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) score, Gridwalk test and bodyweight were weekly assessed. Animals were sacrificed six weeks after SCI and immunohistological analyses were conducted. The results were compared between groups and statistical analysis was performed (p < 0.05 was considered significant). Results The intrathecal administration of Shh led to significantly increased polarization of macrophages toward the anti-inflammatory M2-phenotype, significantly decreased T-lymphocytic invasion and significantly reduced resident microglia six weeks after the injury. Reactive astrogliosis was also significantly reduced while changes in size of the posttraumatic cyst as well as the overall macrophagic infiltration, although reduced, remained insignificant. Finally, with the administration of Shh, gain of bodyweight (216.6 ± 3.65 g vs. 230.4 ± 5.477 g; p = 0.0111) and BBB score (8.2 ± 0.2 vs. 5.9 ± 0.7 points; p = 0.0365) were significantly improved compared to untreated animals six weeks after SCI as well. Conclusion Intrathecal Shh-administration showed neuroprotective effects with attenuated neuroinflammation, reduced astrogliosis and improved functional recovery six weeks after severe contusion/compression SCI.


BMC Neurology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fangfang Qu ◽  
Zhenzhen Qu ◽  
Yingqian Lv ◽  
Bo Song ◽  
Bailin Wu

Abstract Background Transverse myelitis (TM) is due to inflammatory spinal cord injury with bilateral neurologic involvement, which is sensory, motor, or autonomic in nature. It may be associated with autoimmune disease, vaccination, intoxication and infections. The most common infection cause of TM is Coxsackie virus and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The cryptococcosis is rare. We present the case of disseminated cryptococcosis revealed by transverse myelitis in an immunocompetent 55-year-old male patient. The literature review is also stated. Case presentation The 55-year-old man suffered from gradual numbness, weakness in both lower limbs and finally paralyzed in the bed. The thoracic spine Computed tomography (CT) was normal, but multiple nodules in the lung were accidentally discovered. Thoracic Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed diffused thoracic spinal cord thickening and extensively intramedullary T2 hyper intensity areas. Gadolinium contrast enhanced T1WI showed an intramedullary circle-enhanced nodule at 9th thoracic level. Diagnosis was made by histological examination of the bilateral lung biopsy. The patient was treated successfully with systemic amphotericin B liposome and fluconazole and intrathecal dexamethasone and amphotericin B liposome. Conclusions This is a patient with disseminated cryptococcosis involving the lung, spinal cord and adrenal glands, which is rare in the absence of immunodeficiency.


2004 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryder Gwinn ◽  
Fraser Henderson

✓ Anterior spinal cord herniation is a well-documented condition in which the thoracic cord becomes tethered within a defect in the anterior dura mater. Typical procedures have involved a posterior approach with direct manipulation of the thoracic cord to expose and blindly release its point of tethering. The authors report three cases in which a novel approach for the treatment of anterior thoracic cord herniation was performed, cord manipulation and traction are minimized, and direct dural repair of the defect is performed.


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