A novel technique to develop thoracic spinal laminectomy and a methodology to assess the functionality and welfare of the contusion SCI rat model

This study reports the advantage of a novel technique to employ motorised dental burr to assist laminectomy over the conventional manual technique at T11-T12 vertebra level in rat model. Twenty four female rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups: (1) conventionally-laminectomised (2) dental burr assisted laminectomised (3) conventionally-laminectomised with spinal cord contusion and (4) dental burr assisted laminectomised with spinal cord contusion. Postoperative bodyweights, rat grimace scale (RGS), open cage activity, rearing and Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) score was studied at 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28th postoperative day and area of spinal tissue affected was evaluated histologically. Laminectomised and spinal cord injured rats from dental burr groups showed significantly more weight gain and less weight loss respectively in comparison with respective conventionally-laminectomised groups at various time points. Significantly higher RGS score was noticed in conventionally-laminectomised ...