Indomethacin blocks the nucleus pulposus-induced effects on nerve root function. An experimental study in dogs with assessment of nerve conduction and blood flow following experimental disc herniation

• Inflammatory mechanisms have been suggested to be involved in the basic pathophysiologic events leading to nerve root injury after local application of nucleus pulposus. To assess if these nucleus pulposus-induced effects could be blocked by anti-inflammatory treatment, 41 dogs were exposed to either incision of the L6-7 disc to induce experimental disc herniation with (n=12) or without (n=14) indomethacin treatment per os (5 mg/kg per day), and no incision with (n=5) or without (n=10) indomethacin. Intraneural blood flow and nerve conduction velocity were assessed after 7 days to evaluate the degree of nerve injury. Disc incision induced a reduction in nerve root and dorsal ganglion blood flow as well as nerve function, similarly to previous studies. However, simultaneous treatment with indomethacin efficiently blocked the negative effects on both blood flow and nerve conduction but had no effects per se. The present study thus indicates that inflammatory mechanisms may be of relevance in the pathophysiology of nucleus pulposus-induced nerve root injury and thereby also for sciatica.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kirurgi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Surgery (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Animals

Anti-Inflammatory Agents

Non-Steroidal/pharmacology

Arteries/drug effects/physiology

Disease Models

Animal

Dogs

Ganglia

Spinal/blood supply/drug effects/physiology

Indomethacin/*pharmacology/therapeutic use

Intervertebral Disk Displacement/*complications/physiopathology

Neural Conduction/drug effects/physiology

Radiculopathy/*drug therapy/etiology/physiopathology

Regional Blood Flow/drug effects/physiology

Sciatica/drug therapy/pathology/physiopathology

Spinal Nerve Roots/blood supply/*drug effects/physiopathology

Treatment Outcome

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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