Usefulness of the tail-flick reflex in the prognosis of functional recovery in paraplegic rats.
BACKGROUND
This study examines whether return of the TFR is predictive of locomotor recovery after complete SCI in rats.


METHODS
We evaluated TFRs in 39 adult female rats. The spinal cords of rats were compressed at T9 with Yasargil clips. The TFR and BBB were performed on each rat after surgery, at 24 hours, on the fourth day, and weekly.


RESULTS
On the first day, all of these 39 rats had a BBB score of 0. Of these, the TFR in response to tail pinch was present in 16 (41%) cases. Of the 16 rats, 12 (75%) showed a gradual increase in BBB scores during subsequent weeks. However, in the 23 animals in which the TFR was absent, none showed improvement in BBB score or return of hindlimb movements.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that after complete SCI, return of the TFR correlates strongly with return of motor activity.
Rahimi-Movaghar
Vafa
V
Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Sina Hospital, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran 11365-3876, Iran. v_rahimi@sina.tums.ac.ir
Yazdi
Atefeh
A
Mohammadi
Mehdi
M
D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012018:Reflex; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology