The effect of early decompression on the extent of changes in spinal cord microcirculation in experimental traumatic injury to the cord in rabbits

: The purpose of the study was the assessment of the effect of compression of the spinal cord after traumatic injury on spinal microcirculation disturbances and the evaluation in what degree early decompression of the cord reduces the degree of these changes. The experimental study was carried out on 20 rabbits. The injury to the cord was produced at the Th9-Th10 level with simultaneous compression causing vertebral canal narrowing by 1/3 of its width. The assessment was based on the results of microangiographic qualitative and quantitative studies. The animals were divided into 4 groups depending on the duration of cord compression 2, 4, 6 and 12 hours. In each group microcirculation studies were done 12 hours after decompression. Prolonged compression was found to increase the extent of microcirculation disturbances, which were most pronounced after 6 hours of compression. In the group of 12-hour compression microcirculation improvement was observed near the focal lesion. It is concluded that possibly early decompression up to 6 hours after trauma can reduce the degree of secondary damage caused by ischaemia.