Efficacy of methylprednisolone in acute experimental cauda equina injury.

In this experimental study the efficacy of methylprednisolone was investigated by neurophysiological and histopathological evaluation in a rabbit cauda equina model where injury was produced with an aneurysm clip (closed pressure 192 gr). High dose methylprednisolone (kg/30 mg) was administered by intravenous infusion in the 8th, 16th and 24th hours after injury followed by infusion of the same dosage every 6 hours for 24 hours. Nerve conduction velocity was measured before and early after trauma and 3 weeks after injury. Both neurophysiological and histopathological investigations demonstrated the neuroprotective effectiveness of methylprednisolone if it was given in the 8th hour after trauma. Although recovery was observed its efficacy was less pronounced when it was given in the 16th and 24th hours.