A Study of the Effect of Naloxone on the Lipid Peroxidation and the Fine Structure of the Myelin Sheath in the Injured Spinal Cord

Spinal Cord contusions in cats were produced experimentally by impact injuries to the surgically exposed cord at the second lumbar vertebral level. As a step in the investigation of the possible effect of spinal cord trauma on biochemical and ultrastructural changes in the injured cord, activities of lipid peroxidation were measured in the frozen-dried sample of the spinal cord and the fine structure of the myelinated nerve fiber in the white matter were observed before and after the cord injury. An increase of lipid peroxidation level was found as early as 30 minutes after the injury and the highest concentration was reached at 4 hours of injury. Fine structures of the myelinated nerve fibers were changed progressively with the lapse of time after the injury. By 1 hour after the contusion the myelinated nerve fibers showed moderately enlarged periaxonal space, attenuation and disarray of the myelin sheaths. By 4 hour after the contusion, there appeared disarray of the myelin sheaths, greatly enlarged periaxonal space and irregulary contoured axons. The effect of naloxone of the lipid peroxidation and fine ultrastructure of the myelinated nerve fibers were studied, and the results of this study suggested that naloxone have a beneficial effect on the change in lipid peroxidation and the preservation of the myelinated nerve fibers after injury.

A Case of Cervical Disc Herniation Complicated by Central Cord Syndrome

We have recently managed a patient, 31-year-old male, who has been in the state of inferior paraparesis due to cervical disc herniation. The centrally herniated disc material was removed through the posterior approach to the lesion under the general anesthesia in left lateral position. Two days after the operation with removal of herniated disc at C5-6interspace, the subject developed quadriparesis and difficulty in urination in which the weakness of upper extremities were more severe that of the lower extremities. The signs developed postoperatively were very much compatible with those of central cord syndrome, There was improving after the removal of the hematoma and of additional herniated material at second operation which was forced to be done due to development of central cord syndrome in severe degree following the primary surgery. Recovery from neurological dysfunction in order of good and better improvement was of leg, arm, voiding and finger.