Elucidation of the pathogenesis of spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K09119
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56010:Neurosurgery-related
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: FURUYA TAKEO 千葉大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (00507337)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 牧 聡 千葉大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (00771982) ; 國府田 正雄 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 准教授 (50361449)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 脊髄損傷 / 非骨傷性頚髄損傷 / 早期除圧 / 手術

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The efficacy of early decompression surgery was examined in a rat model of spinal cord injury without radiograhic abnormality (SCIWORA). In two different injury severities, the relatively mild injury model showed significant improvement in neurological symptoms in the decompression group in both the early and late phases, compared to the non-decompression group. There was no difference in the degree of improvement in neurological symptoms between the early and late phases. On the other hand, the moderate injury model did not show significant improvement in neurological symptoms in the early and late phases compared with the non-decompression group. The efficacy of decompression in the rat model of SCIWORA was not affected by the timing of decompression, and the efficacy was dependent on the severity of the injury.

Free Research Field

脊椎脊髄病学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

今回の研究からは非骨傷性頚髄損傷の神経症状改善について「損傷の程度」が重要であると考えられた。重度の損傷であると除圧術の効果も限定的となる可能性がある。また除圧術の治療効果が確認された比較的軽微な損傷においても早期除圧の晩期除圧に対する優位性は認められなかった。脊髄損傷は損傷強度、損傷高位、治療介入までの期間等様々な要因が成績に影響すると考えられるが、今回の研究で得られた知見は実臨床における治療選択に一定のエビデンスを与える重要な結果と考える。