Whole body measurements using near-infrared spectroscopy in a rat spinal cord contusion injury model

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2023 · DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2021.1911504 · Published: January 1, 2023

Spinal Cord Injury Cardiovascular Science Medical Imaging

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injuries can lead to lasting nerve function loss and other complications arising from secondary injury. Monitoring a patient's vascular health and function allows for targeted treatments that can reduce the risk of permanent damage after a spinal cord injury. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive tool used to measure the relative concentrations of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin, reflecting complex hemodynamic changes.

Study Duration

14 Days

Participants

8 male Sprague Dawley rats: 4 rats in the SCI group and 4 rats in the sham group. One sham rat was excluded.

Evidence Level

Animal research study

Key Findings

1
NIRS can detect vascular changes in the spine and periphery after spinal cord injury, evolving during recovery.
2
NIRS showed an overall correlational decrease within the central nervous system, specifically between spinal and cerebral measurements.
3
Significant decreases in Δ[HbO] correlation values were observed in SCI rats from pre-surgery to 4 and 7 days post-operation, followed by a rise at 14 days.

Research Summary

The study used NIRS to monitor cerebral, spinal, and peripheral hemodynamics in rats with spinal cord injury and sham controls to assess vascular health. Correlational decreases in Δ[HbO] and Δ[Hb] signals after injury, followed by slow recovery, were seen in the spinal cord and periphery of SCI rats. NIRS is a promising monitoring system for SCI due to its noninvasive nature, adaptability, and ability to provide valuable hemodynamic information on vascular recovery.

Practical Implications

Monitoring Vascular Health

NIRS can be used to monitor vascular health following SCI, guiding treatment to minimize secondary injury and potentially optimize recovery.

Assessing Hemodynamic Changes

NIRS can assess hemodynamic changes in localized regions and the whole body, providing valuable information on vascular recovery after SCI.

Long-Term Monitoring System

NIRS can serve as a long-term monitoring system for SCI due to its non-invasive nature and ability to record from the entire body simultaneously.

Study Limitations

1
NIRS is prone to physiological noise from superficial layers (e.g. skin, skull).
2
Small sample size.
3
Peripheral probe holder design that did not optimize the light coupling between probes and the tissues.

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