Spinal cord edema following freezing injury in the rat: relationship between tissue water content and spinal cord blood flow.

A spinal cord edema model was developed in the rat by inflicting a freezing injury at -40 degrees C for 3 minutes. Regional spinal cord blood flow, tissue water content, and histology were examined. White matter edema had extended several segments by 8 hours after the injury. Tissue water content increased by 20.6% at 24 hours. Spinal cord blood flow in surrounding tissues decreased by more than 25% 4 hours after the injury. The progression of spinal cord edema following freezing injury appeared to be due to disruption of the blood-spinal cord barrier.