J Vet Sci.  2007 Mar;8(1):89-94. 10.4142/jvs.2007.8.1.89.

Establishment of a canine spinal cord injury model induced by epidural balloon compression

• Lim JH
• Jung CS
• Byeon YE
• Kim WH
• Yoon JH
• Kang KS
• Kweon OK

• KMID: 1104241
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2007.8.1.89

Abstract

A model that provides reproducible, submaximal yet sufficient spinal cord injury is needed to allow experiments leading to development of therapeutic techniques and prediction of clinical outcome to be conducted. This study describes an experimental model for spinal cord injury that uses three different volumes of balloon inflation and durations of compression to create a controlled gradation outcome in adult dogs. Twenty-seven mongrel dogs were used for this study. A 3-french embolectomy catheter was inserted into the epidural space through a left hemilaminectomy hole at the L4 vertebral arch. Balloons were then inflated with 50, 100, or 150 microliter of a contrast agent at the L1 level for 6, 12, or 24 h and spinal canal occlusion (SCO) measured using computed tomography. Olby score was used to evaluate the extent of spinal cord injury and a histopathologic examination was conducted 1 week after surgery. The SCO of the 50, 100, and 150 microliter inflations was 22-46%, 51-70%, and 75-89%, respectively (p < 0.05). Olby scores were diminished significantly by a combination of the level of SCO and duration of inflation in all groups. Olby scores in the groups of 150 microliter-12 h, 150 microliter-24 h, and 100 microliter-24 h were 0.5, 0, and 1.7, respectively. Based on these results, a SCO > 50% for 24 h, and > 75% for 12 h induces paraplegia up to a week after spinal cord injury.

Keyword

dog; balloon catheter; spinal cord compression injury; spinal cord occlusion

MeSH Terms

Animals
Balloon Dilatation/*methods
*Disease Models, Animal
*Dogs
Epidural Space/injuries
Spinal Cord Compression/*etiology/pathology
Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Three 3-french embolectomy occlusion catheters were inflated with 50 (A), 100 (B), and 150 (C) µl of contrast agent diluted 50 : 50 with saline. bar = 1 cm.

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  Fig. 2 Transverse CT images of the epicenter of the lesion after balloon inflation. The 'a' represents the area of spinal canal in the vertebra window (A) and 'b' the area of balloon inflation in the spine window (B). The formula for the A-index calculation is b/a ×100 (%).

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  Fig. 3 Percentage of spinal cord occlusion (SCO) in relation to volumes of inflation. *Indicates significant differences (p < 0.05).

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  Fig. 4 Change of Olby scores after spinal cord injury. Data points represent the group means ± SD. Significant differences in Olby score between groups at each day after operation are shown. *Indicates significant differences (p < 0.01).

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  Fig. 5 Histopathological findings at injured epicenter in the 150 µl-12 h (A) and 150 µl-24 h (B) groups 1 week after spinal cord injury. Severe hemorrhages (arrowheads) (A) and vacuolar formations (arrows) (B) were observed. H&E stain. ×200.

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