Role of early surgical decompression of the intradural space after cervical spinal cord injury in an animal model.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The role of decompressing the intradural space through a durotomy as a treatment option for acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury has not been explored in an animal model, to our knowledge. We sought to determine the role of durotomy and duraplasty in the treatment of acute cervical spinal cord injury and its effects on inflammation, scar formation, and functional recovery.

Methods

Seventy-two adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to three groups: contusion injury alone, contusion injury with a decompressive durotomy, and contusion injury with a decompressive durotomy followed by placement of a dural allograft. A mild (200-kdyn [2-N]) contusive injury was delivered to the exposed spinal cord at C5. The injured segment was reexposed four hours after

SUBMITTER: Smith JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2859904 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature