The microangiographic study was undertaken to clarify the pathogenesis of circulatory disturbance in the cervical spinal cord when it was compressed anteriorly or posteriorly. Rabbit was chosen as experimental materials.
The experimental procedures were as follows.
1) The intervertebral disc was drilled anteriorly and a small hole of 5mm in diameter was perforated carefully to avoid damage to the spinal cord. A piece of dried laminaria was inserted onto the dura mater.
2) The weight of 100gm was given to the dura anteriorly through the perforated hole by the designed simple instrument.
3) Laminectomy was peformed and the weight of 100gm was given to the dura posteriorly by the instrument.
After injuires, perfusion with a 1.5% Berline blue solution was accomplished through a canula in the thoracic aorta. The microangiograms showed the following characteristic findings. In anterior compression by laminaria and a weight of 100gm, the spinal cord was flattend antero-posteriorly at the compressed level and non-filling area was found in the gray matter and anterior or lateral columns. The anterior spinal artery was well filled, although the central artery was showed circulatory disturbance. The vascular changes in the posterior compression were different from those of the anterior compression, and were showed the disruption of tissue and vessel in the central and dorsal part.
