Microangiographic observations of morphological vessel changes after experimental spinal cord trauma.

In 36 rabbits the spinal vessels were investigated by microangiography during and immediately after spinal cord compression, and at a long time after decompression. Vessel constrictions, obliterations, injuries, perivascular bleeding, insufficient filling of the surface arterial net, obliterations of the V. spin. post., and venous stasis were found. The vessels in the gray matter were insufficiently filled, whereas those in the periphery were adequately filled. The vessels in animals observed immediately and at a long time after decompression were more often filled than those in animals observed during the compression. Mechanical compression of the vessels may play an important role here.