Xiaoping Ren
Harbin Medical University, China
Title: Spinal Cord Fusion in Acute Spinal Cord Injury of Dog
Biography
Biography: Xiaoping Ren
Abstract
Employing an acute dog model of spinal cord injury (SCI) using a diamond knife to generate a clean cut with little crush injury, we show that application of PEG preparations on the severed ends effects considerable neuroprotection and repair. Our results show that electrical continuity starts to be detected one hour after injury, and that BBB scores reach approximately 50% of the sham levels after three to four weeks. This level of restoration of function continues out to 6 month, which is the longest we assessed the dog. Neurophysiological and DTI MR data confirm electrophysiological and anatomical continuity. This study suggests that a form of spinal cord injury can effectively be treated and points out a way to treat spinal cord injury patients by removing the injured segment and, along with vertebral shortening, reapproximating and fusing the two stumps.