Development of Methods for Neurorrhaphy and the Treatment of Spinal Cord and Cauda Equina Injuries in Battle Casualties.
Abstract
In the interest of nerve grafting, the degree of allergic neuritic response in guinea pigs induced by injecting emulsified feline nerve preserved by various means has been compared with that induced by fresh nerve. The animals also received complete Freund's adjuvant. The means of preservation are freezing -70C, freezing and irradiation 2 and 20 mega r a d, freeze dry processing after irradiation 2 mega r a d. Histological verification of the work is not yet complete but it can be said at this time that irradiation appreciably lowers the antigenicity of heterologous material injected into the guinea pig. Autoradiography verifies that axons in dorsal spinal nerve roots regenerating after transection and repair re-enter the spinal cord. Three years of work have demonstrated that myelotomy followed by 5 days of parenteral steroid therapy will lead to restoration of motor and sensory function in 80% of animals if instituted 3 hours after contusing a segment of feline thoracic spinal cord with a 400 gm-cm force. Local hypothermia applied for 3 hours the 3rd hour after trauma salvages function in 60% of animals. Parenteral steroids administered for 5 days under the same circumstances restores function. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0727731
Entities
People
- James B. Campbell
Organizations
- New York University