Comparison of the effects of riluzole, methylprednisolone and the combination of these two drugs on spinal decompression in the treatment of acute spinal injury in an in vivo rat model

Purpose: The aim of our study was to determine and compare the efficacy of riluzole, methylprednisolone, and the combination of two drugs in a rat model with acute spinal trauma, electrophysiologically and histopathologically. Material and Methods: 59 rats were divided into 4 groups as control, riluzole, MPS and riluzole+MPS. Acute spinal trauma was created on subjects by inflating the embolectomy catheter which was advanced in the epidural space after applying laminectomy and the subjects were followed for 7 days. Medical treatment was administered, electrophysiological recording was made with neuromonitoring and the amplitude–latency values between the groups were compared. At the end of 7 days, subjects were sacrificed and histopathological examination and comparison was made between the groups. Results: Statistically, no significant relationship was observed in terms of the difference in amplitude and latency values obtained after spinal cord injury for experimental homogenity. Drug superiorities were compared and although the riluzole group provided the greatest increase in amplitude, no treatment provided a significant improvement. The riluzole and riluzole + MPS groups provided significantly more improvement in amplitude than the MPS group. For latency, no treatment provided a significant improvement compared to the control group and each other. Finally, histopathological examination was made and found that there was significantly less cavitation area in the riluzole group than the control and MPS groups. However, MPS and the riluzole + MPS groups didn't provide a significant difference compared to the control group. Conclusion: It seems that MPS treatment does not show any benefit in acute spinal injury. Although it does not affect the electrophysiological results significantly, it is thought that riluzole has proven itself in histopathological recovery. Keywords: Riluzole, Methylprednisolone, Acute spinal injury.