Scientific Reports, 2022 · DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14723-8 · Published: June 10, 2022
This study investigates the effectiveness of early decompression surgery in rats with chronic spinal cord compression, mimicking Spinal Cord Injury Without Radiographic Abnormality (SCIWORA). The rats were divided into three groups: immediate decompression, sub-acute decompression (1 week after injury), and a non-decompression group. Behavioral and histological evaluations were performed 4 weeks after the injury to assess motor function and spinal cord damage. The results showed that both immediate and sub-acute decompression groups had significantly higher motor function scores compared to the non-decompression group. The study suggests that decompression surgery, whether performed immediately or within a week after injury, is effective in promoting motor recovery in rats with chronic spinal cord compression. There was no significant difference in outcomes between the immediate and sub-acute decompression groups.
The findings suggest that decompression surgery can be beneficial for patients with SCIWORA, even when performed up to a week after the injury.
The study indicates that the timing of decompression (immediate vs. sub-acute) may not significantly affect the final motor outcome, suggesting a broader window for effective intervention.
The histological findings highlight the importance of decompression in reducing cell death and demyelination, providing insights into the mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects.