The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine

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Twelve spinalized rabbits were prepared by spinal cord transection at T-10 to produce spastic paralysis. Another ten spinalized rabbits were prepared by spinal removal below L-7, producing flaccid paralysis. After the operation, occurrences of complications and pathological changes were observed.
Nine of the twelve spastic rabbits showed hind-limb spasticity and reflex incontinence one or two days after the operation. They also showed some enlarged muscle fibers as well as many atrophied fibers.
The ten flaccid rabbits maintained the flaccid state of the hind limbs and exhibited overflow incontinence.
Since occurrence of spinal deformities or joint contractures caused the spinalized rabbits to be inactive and complications of pressure sores made their conditions worse, prevention of complications and maintenance of good general condition were confirmed to be particularly important.
Many of the pathological behaviors in the spinalized rabbits were comparable to behaviors seen in human patients, so this form of study was thought to provide a useful approach in the study of rehabilitation medicine.

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