title: Usefulness of the tail-flick reflex in the prognosis of functional recovery in paraplegic rats.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Sina Hospital, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Tehran 11365-3876, Iran. v_rahimi@sina.tums.ac.ir
authors.forename: Vafa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rahimi-Movaghar
authors.forename: Atefeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yazdi
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
mesh_terms: 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