Autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell transplant and surgical decompression in a dog with chronic spinal cord injury.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

In dogs with deep analgesia caused by acute spinal cord injury from thoracolumbar disk herniation, autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell transplant may improve recovery. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell transplant in a dog that had paraplegia and deep analgesia caused by chronic spinal cord injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell transplant was performed in a dog having paraplegia and analgesia for 3 years that was caused by a chronic spinal cord injury secondary to Hansen type I thoracolumbar disk herniation. Functional recovery was evaluated with electrophysiologic studies and the Texas Spinal Cord Injury Scale.

RESULTS:

Somatosensory evoked potentials were absent before transplant but were detected after transplant. Functional improvement was noted (Texas Spinal Cord Injury Scale: before transplant, 0; after transplant, 6). No adverse events were observed.

CONCLUSIONS:

Autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell transplant into the subarachnoid space may be a safe and beneficial treatment for chronic spinal cord injury in dogs.

• Authors: Katsutoshi Tamura, Yasuji Harada, Maki Kunimi, Hiroshi Takemitsu, Yasushi Hara, Tatsuo Nakamura, Masahiro Tagawa
• Journal: Experimental and clinical transplantation : official journal of the Middle East Society for Organ Transplantation (Exp Clin Transplant) Vol. 13 Issue 1 Pg. 100-5 (Feb 2015) ISSN: 2146-8427 [Electronic] Turkey
• PMID: 25019162 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Animals
• Biopsy (veterinary)
• Bone Marrow Transplantation (veterinary)
• Chronic Disease
• Decompression, Surgical (veterinary)
• Diskectomy (veterinary)
• Dog Diseases (diagnosis, surgery)
• Dogs
• Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory
• Intervertebral Disc Displacement (diagnosis, physiopathology, surgery, veterinary)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (veterinary)
• Motor Activity
• Neurologic Examination (veterinary)
• Recovery of Function
• Spinal Cord Injuries (diagnosis, physiopathology, surgery, veterinary)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed (veterinary)
• Transplantation, Autologous (veterinary)
• Treatment Outcome