Effect of hypovolemia on traumatic spinal cord injury

OBJECTIVES: Experimentally evaluate the effect of hypovolemia in acute traumatic spinal cord injury. METHODS: Twenty adult male Wistar rats were submitted to traumatic spinal cord injury through spinal cord contusion by direct impact. Ten animals were subjected to bleeding of 20% of their estimated blood to simulate a hypovolemic condition after spinal cord contusion and 10 animals were used as control. The animals were evaluated before, 1, 3, 7 and 14 days after the production of the spinal cord injury through behavioral tests (inclined plane test and motor assessment). RESULTS: The spinal cord contusion associated with hypovolemia had a negative influence on functional outcomes of the spinal cord injury. The animals submitted to hypovolemia after spinal cord contusion had lower scores in behavioral tests (inclined plane test and motor assessment), presenting a slower recovery of the motor function. CONCLUSION: In the experimental model used, the group of animals with hypovolemia after traumatic spinal cord injury had slower recovery and lower intensity in behavioral tests.