Pneumatically powered vertebral displacement device for dogs.
A pneumatically powered trauma device was developed to produce vertebral displacement and spinal cord injury in dogs. After surgical exposure of the spine, displacement was done without laminectomy or cutting of the intervertebral disc. Trauma resulted in luxation between L1 and L2 or fractures of L1 and L2. Force required to cause displacement was recorded via a load sensing system and ranged between 1,848 and 2,666 newtons. In a few dogs, there was partial return of the displaced segment upon pressure release from the device at posttrauma hour 4. The device was an effective means of producing spinal injuries in dogs, and provides a method for studying spinal column and spinal cord injuries.
Animals↗