ABSTRACT
An animal model of spinal cord trauma is essential for understanding the injury mechanisms, cord regeneration, and to aid the development of new therapeutic modalities. This study focused on the development of a graded experimental contusion model for spinal cord injury (SCI) using a pneumatic impact device made in Korea. A contusive injury was made to the dorsal aspect of the cord. Three trauma groups were defined according to the impact velocity (IV). A control group (n=6), received laminectomy only. Group 1 (n=10), 2 (n=10), and 3 (n=10) had IVs of 1.5 m/sec, 2.0 m/sec, and 3.5 m/sec respectively. Functional assessments were made up to the 14th day after injury. The cord was removed at the 14th post-injury day and prepared for histopathologic examination. Significant behavioral and histopathological abnormalities were found in control and each trauma group. All trauma groups showed severe functional impairment immediately after injury but following different rates of functional recovery (Fig. 5). As the impact velocity and impulse increased, the depth of contusive lesion revealed to be profound the results show that the rat model reproduces spinal cord lesions consistently, has a distinctive value in assessing the effects of impact energy.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Male , Rats , Behavior, Animal/physiology , Laminectomy , Models, Animal , Motor Activity/physiology , Random Allocation , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Recovery of Function , Spinal Cord Injuries/pathologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to report the technical feasibility and the result of one stage operation for the bursting fracture of the thoracolumbar spine by posterior approach. METHODS: Seven patients underwent corpectomy and replaced the space with titanium mesh cage filled up with autologous bone pieces through unilateral posterior route after removal of the facet joint and the pedicle followed by pedicle screw fixation at the same surgical field. RESULTS: All patients tolerated the procedures well except one patient complicated with air embolism. Postoperative radiographs showed effective decompression and well placed instruments. Preoperative neurological deficits disappeared completely in two patients but some deficits persisted in the remainders. In two patients, epidural venous bleeding was troublesome and he needed transfusion of 5 pints of packed red blood cell. And another patient complicated with air embolism during operation was recovered with impunity after operation. To insert the mesh cage through the narrow corridor posterolaterally, it was unavoidable to sacrifice one spinal root. CONCLUSION: In spite of technical difficulty, one stage spondylodesis for the bursting thoracolumbar spine though unilateral posterior approach seem to be an effective operative procedure.
Subject(s)
Humans , Decompression , Embolism, Air , Erythrocytes , Hemorrhage , Spinal Fractures , Spinal Fusion , Spinal Nerve Roots , Spine , Surgical Procedures, Operative , Titanium , Zygapophyseal JointABSTRACT
Although dissecting aneurysm of vertebral artery were once thought to be extremely rare, they are now recognized with increasing frequency by dint of aggressive work-up using sophisticated imaging techniques. Vertebral dissection most commonly result from cervical hyperextension and lateral cervical rotation. Our two cases followed suit respectively and presented with ischemic symptoms. The vertebral angiogram demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm at the site of dissection in both cases. Presence or absence of SAH, size of dissection and incorporation of the PICA into dissection greatly have influence upon the outcome after treatment. The authors report two cases of dissecting aneurysm of vertebral artery, in which complete resolution of the pseudoaneurysm was spontaneously achieved following conservative management.